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Senate committee advances waste‑to‑energy bill after lively debate and an amendment to public‑private partnership language
Summary
Senate Bill 964, proposing a waste‑to‑energy framework, passed committee with amendments after extensive public testimony both in opposition and support; the committee changed mandated public‑private partnership language to require exploration rather than mandatory establishment.
The Senate committee advanced Senate Bill 964, which would direct the State to explore waste‑to‑energy options, after a contentious hearing featuring extensive public opposition and some legislative support. Committee members amended the bill to change mandatory language requiring a public‑private partnership into a directive to explore such partnerships.
Opponents, including national and local waste‑policy advocates, told the committee incineration and large waste‑to‑energy plants are costly and polluting and that recycling and diversion produce better life‑cycle environmental outcomes. Mike Iwa of Energy Justice Network urged the committee to reject incineration, saying it is “the most expensive and polluting way to manage waste or to make energy,” and cited past failed proposals on the mainland. Christopher Dean of Recycle Hawaii, representing Clean the Pacific, also testified in opposition and submitted written testimony.
Supporters and some senators framed waste‑to‑energy as one of many tools counties could use to address limited landfill capacity and biohazard waste—matters that drew particular attention following the Lahaina fires. Senator Fevella and other supporters noted the technology has evolved and argued it could be part of a diversified approach to waste management for islands with limited landfill capacity.
Committee members asked technical witnesses about emissions control and regulation. A witness who studies incineration said many U.S. plants are old and lack modern pollution controls and that forthcoming EPA rules (delayed from an earlier timetable) may be insufficient to address emissions concerns; he offered to submit detailed data to the committee. Proponents said some modern plants have advanced controls and that federal subsidies and siting on state land could make projects feasible for neighbor islands.
Action and vote: The committee amended the bill to change the public‑private partnership requirement to a directive to explore such partnerships and advanced SB 964 with reservations. Committee chairs said the amendment was intended to allow study without forcing a partnership where none is feasible; senators recorded aye votes with noted reservations.
What’s next: SB 964 advances with an instruction to the state energy office to explore waste‑to‑energy options in coordination with counties. Committees asked the energy office to continue stakeholder engagement and to provide technical data on emissions, costs, and ash handling.
