Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/3000. (HD1)
SB 2999 requires the state Department of Transportation to create and adopt rules by January 1, 2028, establishing a clean fuel standard for alternative transportation fuels like electricity and biofuels. This rulemaking will directly affect fuel providers, refiners, and the state's transportation sector by setting requirements for reducing carbon emissions in these fuels. The bill mandates the DOT to develop specific standards for cleaner fuel use, focusing on lowering greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. It does not set immediate fuel requirements but establishes a timeline for the agency to create enforceable rules. The legislation is currently in committee review after its introduction in January 2026.
SB 632 requires the State Building Code Council to develop and adopt a new green building standards code for the state. This code would establish specific environmental requirements for construction practices, directly affecting builders, developers, and property owners working on new state-funded projects or major construction. The bill mandates the Council to create and formally adopt these standards, which would become part of the state building code. The legislation focuses on setting concrete, measurable standards for sustainable building design and materials without specifying outcomes or endorsing particular approaches.
Authorizes building permit variances for certain high-efficiency electric water heating systems utilizing heat pump technology. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax and the amount collected from the tax that is deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Includes the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office as a member of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Ensures that the State's zero emissions clean economy aspirational target encourages both local and global sequestration. Requires each state agency to review the impacts of its internal plans as they relate to the purpose and goals of the Commission. Requires HSEO to submit summary reports to the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Authorizes the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to be used to provide financial assistance to underserved ratepayers, in addition to other eligible borrowers. Appropriates funds into and out of the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, a Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Specifies that adjustments required to compensate for certain unavoidable increases in financing costs, if proven by a producer of nonfossil fuel generated electricity by clear and convincing evidence, are mechanisms for reasonable and appropriate incremental adjustments that the Public Utilities Commission may include in the rate payable to the producer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process, including vehicle-to-grid compliance requirements, by 1/1/2026. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires a report to the PUC on the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
