THE SENATE
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HAWAII SILVER LEGISLATURE, 2005
STATE OF HAWAII
S.B. NO.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO REQUIRING ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO MEET A RENEWABLE
PORTFOLIO STANDARD OF 15 PERCENT FOR 2010 AND A GOAL OF 20
PERCENT FOR 2015.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE SILVER LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The Silver Legislature finds that the key to
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achieving sustainability lies in economic diversification,
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export expansion, and import substitution. In the energy
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context, import substitution may be achieved by increasing the
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use and development of renewable energy resources found in
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Hawaii, such as wind, solar, ocean thermal, wave, and biomass
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resources. In addition, developing Hawaii's renewable energy
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resources offers important job creation, environmental
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protection, and energy security benefits.
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The Silver Legislature further finds that the State should
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be a strategic partner with the private sector in developing
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these renewable energy resources, and that the State's
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willingness and intent to provide relevant and meaningful
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support for this endeavor should be embedded into public policy.
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The purpose of this Act is to decrease Hawaii's need to
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import large amounts of oil, and increase import substitution,
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economic efficiency, and productivity, by increasing the use and
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development of Hawaii's renewable energy resources through a
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partnership between the State and the private sector.
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SECTION 2. Each electric utility company that sells
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electricity for consumption in the State shall establish a
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renewable portfolio standard of:
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(1)
Fifteen percent of its net electricity sales by
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December 31, 2010; and
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(2)
Twenty per cent of its net electricity sales by
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December 31, 2015.
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The Public Utilities Commission shall determine if an
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electric utility company is unable to meet the renewable
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portfolio standards in a cost-effective manner, or as a result
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of circumstances beyond its control which could not have been
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reasonably anticipated or ameliorated. If this determination is
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made, the electric utility company shall be relieved of
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responsibility for meeting the renewable portfolio standard for
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the period of time that it is unable to meet the standard.
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SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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