HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

291

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the public utilities commission to CONDUCT A STUDY ON retail wheeling to SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS TO MEET THE ELECTRICITY NEEDS OF RETAIL CUSTOMERS.

 

 

 


WHEREAS, Hawaii relies on imported oil to meet over ninety per cent of the State's energy needs, leaving Hawaii critically vulnerable to oil supply interruptions and oil price volatility; and

 

WHEREAS, there is a need to take bold action to explore all procurement options in support of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in order to integrate Hawaii’s indigenous renewable energy resources in electricity production to promote economic stability, enhance energy security, and demonstrate environmental stewardship; and

 

WHEREAS, while programs like the renewable energy technologies income tax credit and the building of new power generation facilities by electric utilities may incur direct and indirect costs and benefits to Hawaii's taxpayers or ratepayers, there are many other strategies that may have no, or only an insignificant, impact on the taxpayers or ratepayers; and

 

WHEREAS, retail wheeling is defined as the process of transmitting electric power from an electricity producer's point of generation across a third-party-owned transmission and distribution system to a retail customer; and

 

WHEREAS, renewable energy production would be enhanced if renewable energy producers or sellers are allowed to transmit electricity to their retail customers over existing electric public utility transmission lines; and

 

WHEREAS, a study, on retail wheeling would assist the Legislature in drafting legislation to increase renewable energy production using retail wheeling; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to conduct a study on retail wheeling to support the development of renewable energy systems to meet the electricity needs of retail customers; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Requesting the PUC to explore ways to implement retail wheeling to facilitate increased use of renewable generated electricity in Hawaii