Senate committees advance solar self-certification, assign state office to assess rooftop PV; several permitting bills deferred

The Senate committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Government Operations met Jan. 30 in a joint hearing and decision-making session to consider a package of energy, permitting and administrative bills. The committees voted to advance measures that would expand streamlined permitting and self-certification for customer-sited solar projects and to assign the Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) responsibility to coordinate assessments of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) potential on state buildings. Other bills addressing county permitting and certain energy and procurement measures were deferred to allow additional stakeholder work.