STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1708

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 189

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 189 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SEEK ALTERNATIVES TO THE INDUSTRIAL WIND GENERATION FACILITIES AND INTERISLAND HIGH-VOLTAGE UNDERSEA ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION CABLE SYSTEM PROPOSED FOR THE ISLANDS OF MOLOKAI AND LANAI,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor and the Public Utilities Commission to seek island-specific alternatives to the industrial wind generation facilities and interisland high-voltage undersea electric transmission cable system now being considered.

 

     The Outdoor Circle, Maunalua Hawaiian Civic Club, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Friends of Lanai, Kupaa no Lanai, I Aloha Molokai, and numerous individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  Castle and Cooke Hawaii, The Pacific Resource Partnership, and a few individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Consumer Advocacy, Public Utilities Commission, and a few individuals provided comments on this measure.


     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending its title to read, "REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ENGAGE AND WORK WITH LANAI, MOLOKAI, AND THE OTHER NEIGHBOR ISLAND COMMUNITIES WHEN FORMULATING ENERGY POLICY AND IDENTIFYING ENERGY PROJECTS FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII";

 

     (2)  Deleting the clause specifying the dangers of wind turbines;

 

     (3)  Stating generally that wind turbines pose risks for those who live nearby, rather than only health risks;

 

     (4)  Deleting the clause stating that seeking island-specific alternatives to the construction and development of the undersea cable system would enable the State to explore and develop less disruptive energy options;

 

     (5)  Inserting a clause recognizing that the community on Molokai has already begun working with the State on an island-specific plan to develop local renewable energy that will be less disruptive to the environment and community;

 

     (6)  Inserting a clause recognizing that energy projects face less community opposition, delay, and legal challenges when the community is given the opportunity to work with the State and energy partners;

 

     (7)  Amending the measure to request the Governor to engage and work with Lanai, Molokai, and other neighbor island communities when formulating energy policy and identifying energy projects for the State instead of requesting the Governor and the Public Utilities Commission to seek alternatives to wind generation facilities and the undersea cable;

 

     (8)  Specifying that the Mayor of Hawaii County, the Mayor of Kauai County, and the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu shall also receive certified copies of this measure; and

 

     (9)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 189, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair