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Senate committee advances permitting and renewable‑energy bills, defers water‑heating measure
Summary
The Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs on March 17 recommended passing HB2140 (essential permitting positions) and HB2241 (renewable energy tax/code changes), deferred HB2608 on water‑heating systems after industry and agency discussion, and approved two county tax‑freeze resolutions and two Big Island park resolutions with technical amendments.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs met March 17 and recommended advancing multiple bills while deferring action on a water‑heating measure.
Chair convened the committee and called the first measure, House Bill 2140, HD2, relating to essential permitting positions. Reginald King of the Office of Planning and Development said his office "stands on written testimony with concerns," and committee members noted county questions about how new positions would be funded. The committee voted to pass HB2140 out of committee unamended; the chair said the committee report will note county concerns about pay and funding for the positions. Chair voted yes; Vice Chair and the senators present voted aye; one senator was excused.
On House Bill 2241, HD1 — changes related to renewable energy tax treatment — the Department of Taxation (Clinton Piper) and the Hawaii State Energy Office (Monique Zampis) stood on written comments. The chair described planned technical, non‑substantive amendments to narrow how certain tax credits apply. The committee voted to pass HB2241 with amendments on the chair's recommendation and recorded no objections from members present.
House Bill 2608 (water‑heating systems) drew fuller testimony and was deferred. Monique Zampis for the Hawaii State Energy Office provided written comments and amendments. Julie Yunker of YE Gas said the bill's preamble mischaracterizes variance approval rates for on‑demand gas water heaters, noting that "these appliances have served a great need in times of no electricity, poor solar resource, and cost effectiveness" and arguing that variances have been declining. Will Giese of SolarWay Corporation urged removing a statutory 15‑year lifespan for solar water heating so technologies can compete and recommended the Public Utilities Commission reopen a 2010 proceeding on solar‑hot‑water efficiency standards. After members raised access and equity concerns — for some residents gas remains an essential option — the committee deferred further action on HB2608.
The committee also considered two concurrent resolutions on county property‑tax freezes (SCR9 and SR11) and passed them unamended on the chair's recommendation.
Finally, the committee took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 and SR17, related to a proposed regional park on the Big Island. The committee adopted amendments suggested in testimony (notably to change the land designation to county rather than state ownership and to make technical edits) and passed both resolutions with those changes.
The committee adjourned at the close of business. Further fiscal questions and implementation details for the bills passed were deferred to the appropriate finance committees as noted in the committee report.
