Informing the Legislature that on June 20, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2390 HD2 SD1 CD1 (ACT 054).

This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green, directs Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission to explicitly evaluate how the state's reliance on fossil fuels impacts greenhouse gas emissions when reviewing utility costs and projects. It requires the commission to consider specific factors such as price volatility, the cost of importing fuel, supply reliability, and the full lifecycle emissions of energy projects, which include extraction, manufacturing, and disposal stages. Additionally, the law gives the commission the authority to approve higher short-term costs for renewable energy if they help reduce long-term fossil fuel dependence, while allowing a waiver for emissions assessments on projects that do not involve combustion.