STAND. COM. REP. NO.  519

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 279

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 279, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to support the renewable energy industry in Hawaii by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a Renewable Energy Branch of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to coordinate and promote renewable energy initiatives;

 

     (2)  Strengthening laws supporting energy diversification, renewable energy resource development, and indigenous energy resource development; and

 

     (3)  Providing adequate resources to DBEDT.

 

     DBEDT testified in support of this measure.  Blue Planet Foundation supported this bill with amendments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 279, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair