2010 Energy Bills

The following table lists energy bills being considered by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in the 2010 legislative session. Select any bill number below to learn more about the proposed legislation and track its status on the Hawai‘i State Legislature Web site.

Bill # Report Title Description
HB1855 Public Utilities; Voltage Regulation Permits electric utilities to recover costs and earn a 15% rate of return from ratepayers on investments and installations of voltage regulation technologies that meet specified standards.
HB1984 Renewable Energy; Wave Energy Directs the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide assistance to and coordinate with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and, if necessary, Hawaii utility companies, to develop the clean energy scenario plan and to identify and designate a geographic area or areas in the waters of the State of Hawaii as renewable energy zones for the establishment of wave energy conversion platforms or hubs for the development of wave energy into a renewable energy source.
HB2037 Net Energy Metering Increases the maximum allowable generating capacity of an eligible customer-generator from 50 kilowatts to 100 kilowatts. Increases the total allowable rated generating capacity produced by eligible customer-generators from 0.5% to 3% of a utility's peak demand or 15% of peak circuit demand for all distribution-level circuits of 12kV or lower.
HB2048 Solar Energy; Standard Requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop standards for the sale of solar energy systems manufactured and sold in the State.
HB2119 Biofuels Facility; Nameplate Capacity; Certified Credits Expands the facility tax credit to include biofuels, amends the allowable tax credit to be equal to 40 cents per gallon of biofuel produced, amends the definition of nameplate capacity, requires qualifying facility to be located within the State and utilize locally sourced feedstock for at least 75% of its production output, restricts certified credits in the aggregate in the initial 4 years of availability.
HB2130 Taxation; Environmental Response Tax Requires a marine terminal operator, rather than a distributor, to collect the environmental response tax from the owner of petroleum products at the time those products are received at the terminal.
HB2133 Procurement Amends the Hawaii public procurement code to make public contracts effective as of the notice of the award. Specifies that the solicitation, offer, bid, or proposal and the award notice constitute the entire contract. Provides that a subsequent written and executed contract is not required.
HB2189 Tax credit; solar energy system installers Provides a tax credit for solar energy system installers.
HB2197 Condominiums; Solar Energy; Wind Energy Gives boards of directors authority to install or allow the installation of solar energy or wind energy devices on the common elements of condominiums.
HB2209 Energy Innovation Award Establishes the energy innovation award to be awarded by the high technology innovation corporation to applicants that present patentable technologies that create significant energy savings for Hawaii.
HB2218 Renewable Energy Creates the renewable energy facility tax credit. Increases the State's renewable energy portfolio goals. Authorizes public schools to contract with renewable energy facilities to purchase electricity.
HB2236 Energy; Public Facilities Ensures that agencies that enter into energy performance contracts shall continue to receive budget appropriations for energy expenditures in an amount that shall not fall below the pre-performance contract budget.
HB2237 Biofuel Facilities; Income Tax; Tax Credit Amends the ethanol facility income tax credit to include other liquid biofuels, and to enable larger facilities to be eligible for the tax incentive.
HB2238 Renewable Portfolio Standards. Amends definition of "renewable electrical energy" to include, beginning January 1, 2015, customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation.
HB2287 Petroleum Industry; Information Repeals the petroleum industry information reporting requirements, the petroleum industry monitoring, analysis, and reporting program, and the PIMAR special fund.
HB2299 Energy conservation; voltage regulation; incentives  Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to provide incentives to electric utilities that purchase and install dynamic voltage regulation technologies that reduce energy consumption, improve grid efficiency, and are at least 99% efficient across at least 90% of the load curve.
HB2322 Environmental Protection Transfers the Office of Environmental Quality Control and the Environmental Council from the Department of Health to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Reduces the membership of the Environmental Council from 15 to 7. Requires the director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control to seek advice from and assist the Council on Environmental Quality matters and to perform environmental outreach and education. Requires the Office of Environmental Quality Control to maintain an electronic communication system. Gives rulemaking authority to the Environmental Council. Requires the director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control to prepare an annual report assessing system effectiveness. Requires the Environmental Council to serve in advisory capacity to the governor. Creates the Environmental Review Special Fund. Directs the director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control to establish reasonable administrative fees for the environmental review process.
HB2323 Alternative Energy; Net Energy Metering; Energy Credits Allows eligible customer-generators to carry over unused credits for excess electricity from previous months until exhausted. 
HB2324 Renewable Energy; Agriculture  Requires that by 2015 a minimum of two per cent of each utility's renewable portfolio standard be from biofuel or from agricultural producers.
HB2325 Conservation District; Renewable Energy  Authorizes DLNR rules to allow renewable energy facilities in state conservation districts. 
HB2346 Transportation; Electric Bicycle; Bicycle  Amends the definition of "bicycle" to include a bicycle powered by an electric motor. 
HB2398 Environmental Protection  Transfers the office of environmental quality control and the environmental council from the department of health to the department of land and natural resources. Reduces the membership of the environmental council from 15 to 7. Requires the director of the office of environmental quality control to seek advice from and assist the council on environmental quality matters and to perform environmental outreach and education. Requires the office of environmental quality control to maintain an electronic communication system. Gives rulemaking authority to the environmental council. Requires the director of the office of environmental quality control to prepare an annual report assessing system effectiveness. Requires the environmental council to serve in advisory capacity to the governor. Creates the environmental review special fund. Directs the director of the office of environmental quality control to establish reasonable administrative fees for the environmental review process. 
HB2410 Agriculture Working Group  Establishes an agriculture working group to assess agricultural issues in the State to improve the agricultural industry. 
HB2421 Food and Energy Security; Appropriation Makes various amendments, establishes various initiatives, and appropriates funds to promote economic development for local food and energy businesses, ensure Hawaii is energy and food self-sufficient and sustainable to the maximum extent feasible, and help Hawaii's natural resources and humankind adapt and be resilient to the inevitable challenges brought on by climate change. Provides a fuel tax exemption for commercial air transportation providers.
HB2426 State Enterprise Zones; Eligible Business Activity; Solar Energy Adds solar energy to the definition of eligible business activities within a state enterprise zone. 
HB2436 Biofuel Facilities; Nameplate Capacity; Certified Credits  Expands the facility tax credit to include various biofuels; amends the definition of nameplate capacity; requires a qualifying facility to be located within the State and to utilize locally grown feedstock for at least 75% of its production output; increases the amount of certified credits from $12 million to $20 million; and removes the 40 million gallon production per year cap.
HB2437 Renewable Energy; Renewable Energy Facility Siting Process; Appropriation Establishes a renewable energy facility siting process to expedite the review and action upon state and county permits necessary for the siting, development, construction, and operation of a renewable energy facility.
HB2450  Renewable Energy Facilities; Subdivision Requirement; Exemptions  Clarifies that the exemption from subdivision requirements for leases and easements for renewable energy facilities applies to renewable energy facilities on agricultural land approved by the Land Use Commission and renewable energy facilities on conservation land permitted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
HB2451 Net Zero Energy Buildings; Permits  Requires priority state and county permitting for buildings that consume zero net energy and have no carbon emissions. 
HB2453 Biodiesel; Tax Credit  Provides a tax credit for biodiesel production using crops grown in the State. 
HB2463 Sustainability; State Planning  Incorporates the definitions, guiding principles, and goals of the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force report into the Hawaii State Planning Act, codified as chapter 226.
HB2497 Special Purpose Revenue Bonds; Carbon Bio-Engineers, Inc.  Authorizes issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for Carbon Bio-Engineers, Inc., for development of non-fossil fuel energy production. ($)
HB2517 Fossil Fuels; Electricity Generation  Prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for new electrical generation facilities that can only use fossil fuels as their energy source.
HB2518 Agriculture; Electrical Power Generation; Electric Utilities  Modifies the renewable portfolio standards to require at least two per cent of electrical power generation starting in 2015 be from commercial operations that also produces food or biofuels.
HB2519 Biofuel Facility Incentive  Modifies the existing tax credit for ethanol production facilities to apply to other biofuel production facilities using agricultural feedstocks and removes the statewide production cap of 40,000,000 gallons per year, but retains the per-facility tax credit limit of 15,000,000 gallons of production capacity.
HB2520 Photovoltaic Ready New Residential Homes  Requires that new single-family residential construction incorporate design elements and minimum equipment installation at the time of construction so as to facilitate the future adoption of a photovoltaic system.
HB2521 Energy Efficient, New Single-Family Residential Construction  Requires all new single-family residential construction be designed to be "net zero energy capable" as of January 1, 2015. 
HB2522 Renewable Energy Systems; Exemption From General Excise Tax  Exempts renewable energy systems of two megawatts or greater from the general excise tax on wholesale and retail transactions from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015.
HB2530 Renewable Energy Producers  Allows the Board of Land and Natural Resources to consider a renewable energy land lease as part of its customary public meeting schedule, avoiding the expense and delay of duplicative public hearings and allows proprietary business information regarding the land lease to remain confidential. 
HB2531 Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bond Program; Establishment  Establishes a Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bond Program for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvements on residential and commercial properties, and authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the program.
HB2560 Accelerated Approval; Clean Energy; Affordable Housing; Infrastructure  Expands the application of current law as it pertains to the processing of permits and licenses for affordable housing developed under chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to also include mixed-use developments, infrastructure for residential developments, and renewable energy facilities. 
HB2562 Petroleum Industry Reporting  Suspends the Petroleum Industry Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Program until it is reinstated by the Legislature. Transfers unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the Petroleum Industry Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Special Fund to the general fund. 
HB2618 Renewable Energy; Subdivision Requirements Exemption  Requires an exemption from subdivision requirements for a renewable energy facility to be deemed approved if not disapproved within the ninety-day time period.
HB2619 State Enterprise Zones; Renewable Energy  Expands eligible business activity in the State enterprise zones to include the development or production of various types of renewable energy.
HB2620 Renewable Energy; Conservation Districts  Allows certain renewable energy projects in the State's conservation districts. 
HB2621 Renewable Energy Projects; Priority Permitting  Requires a renewable energy project permit application that fulfills the minimum requirements established by a state or county agency in applicable permit statutes, ordinances, regulations, or rules to be accepted for processing within ten working days of the date the permit application was received by the agency. 
HB2628 SPRB; Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC  Extends the authorization to issue special purpose revenue bonds for Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC. ($) 
HB2631 Energy Industry Reporting  Establishes the energy industry monitoring and analysis program within DBEDT. Suspends the petroleum industry monitoring and reporting program in the PUC.
HB2638 Public Utilities; Voltage Regulation  Permits electric utilities to recover costs and earn a 15% rate of return from ratepayers on investments and installations of voltage regulation technologies that meet specified standards.
HB2642 Appropriations; Public Utilities Commission; Division of Consumer Advocacy  Appropriates moneys for the reorganization of the PUC and the division of consumer advocacy. ($) 
HB2643 Bond Loan; Clean Energy Establishes a property assessed clean energy bond financing program for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvements on residential and commercial properties, and authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the program. ($)
HB2646 State Enterprise Zones; Renewable Energy  Expands eligible business activity in state enterprise zones by including the development or production of various types of renewable energy.
HB2679 Transportation; Hybrid Bicycles; Bicycles  Clarifies the definition of bicycle to include electric motor bicycles for purposes of county vehicular taxes and the statewide traffic code. Specifies type of bicycles to be allowed to be transported on public busses. 
HB2713 Excise Taxes; Exemptions Exempts amounts received from sales of green technology manufacturing equipment from the general excise tax law.    
HB2717 Special and Revolving Funds; Repeal Provisions    Repeals the Tax Administration Special Fund and Cigarette Tax Stamp Administrative Special Fund.  
HB2726 Rental Motor Vehicle Surcharge Tax; Electric Vehicles  Exempts lessors from the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax when renting an electric vehicle. 
HB2743 Renewable Energy Tax Credit; Commercial Property; Transfer  Amends section 235-12.5, HRS, to expand the credit for renewable energy projects installed on commercial properties, reduces the credit reduction for taxpayers seeking a refundable credit, allows the tax credit to be transferred between taxpayers, and amends chapter 431, HRS, to expressly allow insurance companies to be eligible to claim a renewable energy technologies income tax credit.
HB2792 Solar Energy Device; Condominiums  Clarifies that the rules of a private condominium entity shall not render a solar energy device more than twenty-five per cent less effective, increase the cost of installation, maintenance, or removal of a solar energy device, or require an encumbrance on title because of the placement of the solar energy device.
HB2828 High Technology Research and Development Tax Credit Extends the Tax Credit for Research Activities from 2010 to 2011; creates a High Technology Research and Development Task Force to draft legislation to improve the tax credit or establish alternatives to the tax credit  
HB2903 Land Use Commission; Agricultural Districts; Solar Energy  Authorizes solar energy facilities in agricultural districts with productivity rating classes of B or C, in addition to previously authorized lands with productivity rating classes of D or E. For lands with productivity rating classes of B or C, requires that the solar energy facilities use renewable energy sources to support the agricultural operations.
HB2911 Special Purpose Revenue Bonds; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.  Authorizes issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. for the upgrade of the electrical system at Makalapa Manor Apartments. ($)
HB2922 Solid Waste; Fluorescent and CFL Bulbs; Disposal  Prohibits the incineration or disposal of fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs in landfills and waste-to-energy facilities in the State.
HB2926 Solar Energy; Agricultural Lands  Authorizes solar energy facilities on class B and C agricultural land; requires the solar energy facility on class B and C land to provide for the energy requirements via a renewable energy source for the agricultural operations on the land on which the solar energy facility is established.
HB2941 Important Agricultural Lands; Designation  Allows designation of important agricultural lands by the legislature by law. 
HB2944 State Private Investment Fund  Amends the State Private Investment Fund by among other things authorizing the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation to hire a discretionary investment manager; limiting the guarantee of loans, lines of credit, and equity capital to the tax credit limit; removing the annual legislative authorization requirement; and requiring board members to have knowledge or experience in venture or seed capital, or investment funds.
HB2945 State Private Investment Fund; Venture Capital; High Technology  Directs the state private investment fund's investment capital to venture capital funds that commit to equity investments in businesses located within the State and demonstrate an ability to mentor entrepreneurs. Also authorizes an unspecified amount in tax credits to be used by the fund as collateral.
HB2957 Energy Efficiency; State Motor Vehicles  Requires each agency to provide an annual report on the fuel efficiency of its motor vehicle fleet to DAGS. Requires DAGS to compile the reports and submit them to the legislature.
HB2960 Environmental Impact Statements; Exemptions  Provides an exemption for projects that protect, preserve, and enhance the environment, land, or natural resources, under certain conditions. Requires the environmental council to make a determination of whether the exemption should be applicable after a public hearing. 
HB2965 Financial Disclosure; Public Records  Requires that the financial disclosure statements of the executive director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; the commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission; and the members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources be deemed public records and available for inspection and duplication.
HB2971 Renewable Energy Facility Siting; Requires the energy resources coordinate to include representatives from the island where a renewable energy facility is proposed to be included in determining terms and conditions of permit plan. Adds community benefits agreements as subject to determination by government agencies, applicant, and residents.
SB2038 Parking Of Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, Mopeds  Increases supply of public and private parking for motorcycles, mopeds, and motor scooters. 
SB2185 Environmental Protection Transfers the office of environmental quality control and the environmental council from the department of health to the department of land and natural resources. Reduces the membership of the environmental council from 15 to 7. Requires the director of the office of environmental quality control to seek advice from and assist the council on environmental quality matters and to perform environmental outreach and education. Requires the office of environmental quality control to maintain an electronic communication system. Gives rulemaking authority to the environmental council. Requires the director of the office of environmental quality control to prepare an annual report assessing system effectiveness. Requires the environmental council to serve in advisory capacity to the governor. Creates the environmental review special fund. Directs the director of the office of environmental quality control to establish reasonable administrative fees for the environmental review process.
SB2208 Conservation; Environmental Procurement Practices Requires environmentally-friendly procurement practices by State agencies. Mandates the use of fluorescent light bulbs and recyclable or biodegradable supplies. Sets minimum fuel efficiency standards for state vehicles. 
SB2224 Financial Disclosure; Public Records  Requires that the financial disclosure statements of the executive director of the division of consumer advocacy of the department of commerce and consumer affairs; the commissioners of the public utilities commission; and the members of the board of land and natural resources be deemed public records and available for inspection and duplication.
SB2228 Rental Motor Vehicle Exemption; Electric Vehicle; Plug-in  Provides a rental motor vehicle surcharge tax exemption for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. 
SB2230 Gasoline Dealers; Tire Pressure Gauges; Energy Efficiency Requires retail service stations to provide free tire pressure gauges and operational tire inflation devices to enable motorists to maintain properly inflated tires to increase the energy efficiency of motor vehicles.
SB2231 General Excise Tax; Electric Vehicles; Exemption  Exempts electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging systems from the general excise tax from July 1, 2010, to before January 1, 2020.
SB2232 Renewable Fuels; Biofuels; Tax Credit Expands the existing ethanol facility tax credit to include other liquid biofuels. 
SB2233 Energy; Public Facilities Ensures that agencies that enter into energy performance contracts shall continue to receive budget appropriations for energy expenditures in an amount that shall not fall below the pre-performance contract budget.
SB2234 General Excise Tax; Renewable Energy Systems; Exemption  Exempts renewable energy systems from the general excise tax from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015. 
SB2235 Photovoltaic Ready New Residential Homes  Requires that new single-family residential construction incorporate design elements and minimum equipment installation at the time of construction to facilitate the future adoption of a photovoltaic system.
SB2261 Environment; Recycling and Renewable Energy Clarifies duties of recycling coordinator to include renewable energy planning and coordination.
SB2290 State Private Investment Fund; Venture Capital; High Tech Amends the State private investment fund to direct its investment capital to venture capital funds that commit to equity investments in businesses located within the state and demonstrate ability to mentor entrepreneurs; Authorizes $ in tax credits to be used by the fund as collateral.
SB2293 High Technology Research and Development Tax Credit  Extends the Tax Credit for Research Activities from 2010 to 2011; creates a High Technology Research and Development Task Force to draft legislation to improve the tax credit or establish alternatives to the tax credit.
SB2294 Renewable Energy Tax Credit; Commercial Property; Transfer  Amends section 235-12.5, HRS, to expand the credit for renewable energy projects installed on commercial properties, reduces the credit reduction for taxpayers seeking a refundable credit, allows the tax credit to be transferred between taxpayers, and amends chapter 431, HRS, to expressly allow insurance companies to be eligible to claim a renewable energy technologies income tax credit. 
SB2295 State Enterprise Zones; Renewable Energy  Expands eligible business activity in the State enterprise zones to include the development or production of various types of renewable energy.
SB2296 Renewable Energy; Conservation Districts   Allows certain renewable energy projects in the State's conservation districts. 
SB2297 Renewable Energy Projects; Priority Permitting Requires a renewable energy project permit application that fulfills the minimum requirements established by a state or county agency in applicable permit statutes, ordinances, regulations, or rules to be accepted for processing within ten working days of the date the permit application was received by the agency.
SB2298 Renewable Energy; Subdivision Requirements Exemption  Requires an exemption from subdivision requirements for a renewable energy facility to be deemed approved if not disapproved within the ninety-day time period.
SB2331 Renewable Energy; Agriculture Requires that by 2015 a minimum of two per cent of each utility's renewable portfolio standard be from biofuel or from agricultural producers.
SB2332 Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Public Utilities Commission Directs the Public Utilities Commission to enact an on-bill financing program whereby residential electric utility customers may finance purchases of energy efficient or renewable energy devices and systems through their regular electric utility bills.
SB2333 Net Energy Metering; Renewable Energy; Public Utilities Commission  Removes the total rated and combined total peak generating capacity limits for net energy metering and increases eligible customer-generator capacity to two megawatts. Permits existing net-metered customers to remain with the net metering program once alternative credits or compensation mechanisms are created. Allows an eligible customer-generator up to five hundred kilowatts before the eligible customer-generator must gain public utilities commission approval of safety and performance standards. Requires PUC to initiate rulemaking to adopt interconnection standards for certain renewable energy facilities.
SB2357 Renewable Energy; Natural Gas Utility; Reporting Requirements  Establishes renewable portfolio standards for natural gas utility companies with oversight by Public Utilities Commission. Defines "natural gas" and "natural gas utility company". Requires DLNR to work with natural gas utility companies on planning and permitting processes to expedite renewable energy resource development. 
SB2358 High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes; Hybrid Vehicles; Energy-Efficient Vehicles  Provides that high occupancy vehicle lanes may be used by hybrid and energy-efficient vehicles including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, regardless of the number of occupants.
SB2407 Renewable Energy; Revenue Sharing; Electric Bill Credit  Establishes an electricity bill reduction for residential electric meters on islands where renewable electric energy is generated and exported.
SB2411 Renewable Energy Facilities; Subdivision Requirement; Exemptions  Clarifies that the exemption from subdivision requirements for leases and easements for renewable energy facilities applies to renewable energy facilities on agricultural land approved by the Land Use Commission and renewable energy facilities on conservation land permitted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
SB2413 State Enterprise Zones; Renewable Energy  Expands eligible business activity in the State enterprise zones to include the development or production of various types of renewable energy.
SB2418 Environmental Impact Statements Amends the definition of "significant effect" to exclude secondary impacts that may result from government action, and makes this amendment retroactive.
SB2421 Conservation District; Renewable Energy  Authorizes DLNR rules to allow renewable energy facilities in state conservation districts.
SB2423 Condominiums; Solar Energy; Wind Energy  Gives boards of directors authority to install or allow the installation of solar energy or wind energy devices on the common elements of condominiums.
SB2444 Biodiesel; Tax Credit  Provides a tax credit for biodiesel production using crops grown in the State. 
SB2464 Food and Energy Security; Barrel Tax  Makes various amendments, establishes various initiatives, and appropriates funds to promote economic development for local food and energy businesses, ensures Hawaii is energy and food self-sufficient and sustainable to the maximum extent feasible, and to help Hawaii's natural resources and humankind adapt and be resilient to the inevitable challenges brought on by climate change.
SB2488 Net Metering; PUC; Surplus Electricity Compensation  Requires electrical utilities to compensate net metering surplus customer-generators for excess electricity generated by the customer-generators at the end of the twelve-month reconciliation period. Directs the PUC to determine the net surplus compensation rate. 
SB2520 HHCA; Native Hawaiian; Sublease; Renewable Energy Producers Authorizes the native Hawaiian lessees of Hawaiian homestead land to sublease a portion of their land to renewable energy producers.
SB2526 Wind Energy Facilities; Setback  Provides for a setback when wind energy facilities are being used in agricultural districts. 
SB2544 SPRB; Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC  Extends the authorization to issue special purpose revenue bonds for Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC. 
SB2551 Net Zero Energy Buildings; Permits  Requires priority state and county permitting for buildings that consume zero net energy and have no carbon emissions. 
SB2554 Energy Efficiency; New Single Family Residential Construction Mandates that all new single-family residential home construction shall be net zero capable by 2015. 
SB2555 Electricity; Aggregation; Government Entities  Requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules that will enable government entities to purchase electricity in bulk electrical loads; authorizes government entities that purchase electricity in bulk electrical loads to contract with renewable energy producers.
SB2556 Renewable Portfolio Standards.  Amends definition of "renewable electrical energy" to include, beginning January 1, 2015, customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation.
SB2557 Green Buildings; Density Bonus; Counties and State Agencies  Requires counties and state agencies responsible for zoning to give developers of qualifying green commercial buildings a density bonus. Requires the county or state agency, as applicable, to process the density bonus application within 45 days of receipt of required documentation.
SB2558 Fossil-Fueled, Electricity-Generating Facility; Restriction  Restricts any new construction of or expansion of existing fossil-fueled, electricity-generating facilities unless the electric utility company can demonstrate compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standards.
SB2563 Energy Efficiency; HCEI; Lead By Example Goals  Amends the lead by example goals of state energy efficiency to target 30% energy efficiency by 2030. 
SB2613 School Construction; School Renovation; Alternative Energy Design  Requires the Department of Education to incorporate alternative energy designs into the construction of new schools and major renovations at existing schools for which planning and design begins on or after July 1, 2010.
SB2618 Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit; Assignment of Credit  Authorizes an owner to assign the renewable energy technologies income tax credit to a system seller or installer. 
SB2619 Alternative Energy; Net Energy Metering; Energy Credits  Allows eligible customer-generators to carry over unused credits for excess electricity from previous months until exhausted. 
SB2623 Renewable Energy; Agricultural Districts; Conservation Districts  Permits renewable energy uses in agricultural and conservation districts. 
SB2634 Biofuel Facilities; Nameplate Capacity; Certified Credits  Expands the facility tax credit to include various biofuels; amends the definition of nameplate capacity; requires a qualifying facility to be located within the State and to utilize locally grown feedstock for at least 75% of its production output; increases the amount of certified credits from $12 million to $20 million; and removes the 40 million gallon production per year cap. 
SB2635 Renewable Energy; Renewable Energy Facility Siting Process; Appropriation  Establishes a renewable energy facility siting process to expedite the review and action upon state and county permits necessary for the siting, development, construction, and operation of a renewable energy facility.
SB2651 Biofuels Facility; Nameplate Capacity; Certified Credits  Expands the facility tax credit to include biofuels, amends the allowable tax credit to be equal to 40 cents per gallon of biofuel produced, amends the definition of nameplate capacity, requires qualifying facility to be located within the State and utilize locally sourced feedstock for at least 75% of its production output, restricts certified credits in the aggregate in the initial 4 years of availability.
SB2670 Fossil Fuels; Electricity Generation  Prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for new electrical generation facilities that can only use fossil fuels as their energy source.
SB2671 Agriculture; Electrical Power Generation; Electric Utilities  Modifies the renewable portfolio standards to require at least two per cent of electrical power generation starting in 2015 be from commercial operations that also produces food or biofuels.
SB2672 Biofuel Facility Incentive  Modifies the existing tax credit for ethanol production facilities to apply to other biofuel production facilities using agricultural feedstocks and removes the statewide production cap of 40,000,000 gallons per year, but retains the per-facility tax credit limit of 15,000,000 gallons of production capacity. 
SB2673 Photovoltaic Ready New Residential Homes  Requires that new single-family residential construction incorporate design elements and minimum equipment installation at the time of construction so as to facilitate the future adoption of a photovoltaic system.
SB2674 Energy Efficient, New Single-Family Residential Construction  Requires all new single-family residential construction be designed to be "net zero energy capable" as of January 1, 2015. 
SB2675 Renewable Energy Systems; Exemption From General Excise Tax  Exempts renewable energy systems of two megawatts or greater from the general excise tax on wholesale and retail transactions from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015.
SB2683 Renewable Energy Producers  Allows the Board of Land and Natural Resources to consider a renewable energy land lease as part of its customary public meeting schedule, avoiding the expense and delay of duplicative public hearings and allows proprietary business information regarding the land lease to remain confidential. 
SB2684 Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bond Program; Establishment  Establishes a Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bond Program for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvements on residential and commercial properties, and authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the program.
SB2713 Accelerated Approval; Clean Energy; Affordable Housing; Infrastructure  Expands the application of current law as it pertains to the processing of permits and licenses for affordable housing developed under chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to also include mixed-use developments, infrastructure for residential developments, and renewable energy facilities. 
SB2715 Petroleum Industry Reporting  Suspends the Petroleum Industry Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Program until it is reinstated by the Legislature. Transfers unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the Petroleum Industry Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Special Fund to the general fund.
SB2782 Energy Security; Petroleum, Coal, and Nuclear Power Plants  Proposes a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new petroleum, coal, and nuclear power plants within the State without the approval of two-thirds of each house of the legislature. (ConAm)
SB2783 Motion Sensor Technology; Hotel Rooms Requires that any new construction, major renovation, or retrofit of an existing building of a hotel include motion sensor technology or other technology in the hotel rooms to control the lighting and air when people are absent from the room.
SB2784 Motion Sensor Technology; State Facilities Requires that any new construction, major renovation, or retrofit of an existing building of a state facility include motion sensor technology or other technology to control the lighting and air when people are absent from the rooms.
SB2789 Fuel Tax; Free School Transportation; Students  Increases the state fuel tax, and directs the increase to the School Transportation Revolving Fund. Authorizes the Department of Education to provide free school transportation for public and private school students in kindergarten through grade 12 and in special education classes. ($)  
SB2809 Public Utilities Commission; Division of Consumer Advocacy; Appropriations Appropriates moneys for the reorganization of the PUC and the division of consumer advocacy. ($) 
SB2815 Bond Financing; Clean Energy  Establishes a property assessed clean energy bond financing program for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvements on residential and commercial properties, and authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the program. ($)
SB2816 Food and Energy Security; Appropriation  Makes various amendments, establishes various initiatives, and appropriates funds to promote economic development for local food and energy businesses, ensure Hawaii is energy and food self-sufficient and sustainable to the maximum extent feasible, and help Hawaii's natural resources and humankind adapt and be resilient to the inevitable challenges brought on by climate change. ($)
SB2817 Solar Energy Device; Homeowners Associations Clarifies that the rules of a private condominium entity shall not render a solar energy device more than twenty-five per cent less effective, increase the cost of installation, maintenance, or removal of a solar energy device, or require an encumbrance on title because of the placement of the solar energy device. 
SB2818 Environmental Protection  Transfers the office of environmental quality control and the environmental council from the department of health to the department of land and natural resources; reduces the membership of the environmental council from 15 to 7; establishes the environmental review special fund; revises the environmental assessment and environmental impact statement process to create a more streamlined, transparent, and consistent process. ($)
SB2830 Environmental Protection  Removes the University of Hawaii Environmental Center from the environmental quality control process; transfers the Office of Environmental Quality Control from the Department of Health to the Office of the Governor; revises the environmental review process to create an approach that is based primarily on land use decisions rather than individual projects.
SB2836 Net Energy Metering  Increases the maximum allowable generating capacity of an eligible customer-generator from 50 kilowatts to 100 kilowatts. Increases the total allowable rated generating capacity produced by eligible customer-generators from 0.5% to 3% of a utility's peak demand or 15% of peak circuit demand for all distribution-level circuits of 12kV or lower. 
SB2858 Retail Wheeling; Public Utilities  Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish policies and procedures related to retail wheeling to enable independent power producers to sell electricity directly to end users.
SB2864 State Enterprise Zones; Renewable Energy Expands eligible business activity in state enterprise zones by including the development or production of various types of renewable energy.
SB2865 Property Assessed Clean Energy Bond Financing  Establishes a Property Assessed Clean Energy bond financing program in Hawaii. ($) 
SB2875 Food and Energy Security; Appropriation  Makes various amendments, establishes various initiatives, and appropriates funds to promote economic development for local food and energy businesses, ensure Hawaii is energy and food self-sufficient and sustainable to the maximum extent feasible, and help Hawaii's natural resources and humankind adapt and be resilient to the inevitable challenges brought on by climate change. Provides a fuel tax exemption for commercial air transportation providers. ($)
SB2923 Solar Energy; Agricultural Lands  Authorizes solar energy facilities on class B and C agricultural land; requires the solar energy facility on class B and C land to provide for the energy requirements via a renewable energy source for the agricultural operations on the land on which the solar energy facility is established.
SB2926 Special Purpose Revenue Bonds; Carbon Bio-Engineers, Inc.  Authorizes issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for Carbon Bio-Engineers, Inc., for development of non-fossil fuel energy production. ($)
SB2927 Transportation; Green Vehicles  Changes "electric vehicle" reference to "G-vehicles or "green vehicles" in laws requiring facilities to designate parking spaces for green vehicles, and establishing penalties for misuse of green vehicle parking. 
SB2957 Environmental Impact Statements; Exemptions  Provides an exemption for projects that protect, preserve, and enhance the environment, land, or natural resources, under certain conditions. Requires the environmental council to make a determination of whether the exemption should be applicable after a public hearing.
Department of Energy
State of Hawaii