Energy (Renewable Energy)

Renames the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program to the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Program (Program). Amends the required activities of the Program, including conducting engineering and economic evaluations of potential locations for long duration clean energy storage and pumped storage hydroelectric projects. Renames the Hydrogen Investment Special Fund to the Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Investment Capital Special Fund. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Expands the provisions of the renewable fuels production tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to prioritize lease offers for beginning farmers. Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to submit an annual agrivoltaics compliance report to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes DAB to penalize any landowner that fails to meet agrivoltaics requirements. Authorizes the development of solar energy facilities on agricultural lands with productivity ratings of B, C, or D under certain conditions. Authorizes a county planning commission to issue special permits for agrivoltaics requirements before the approval of the Land Use Commission under certain conditions. (SD1)

Requires contested cases, environmental assessment cases, or environmental impact statement cases involving renewable energy projects over twenty megawatts in size, except cases that involve any form of incineration, to be appealed from an agency's decision directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court for final decision. Requires the cases to be prioritized and decided expeditiously. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to implement SolarAPP+ or a functionally equivalent online automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits to licensed contractors for solar distributed energy resource systems in real-time by 1/1/2026. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits in areas served by an investor-owned electric utility to adopt a self-certification process for solar distributed energy resource systems that are not SolarAPP+ compatible.

Replaces the State's renewable portfolio standard of 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2045 with the original mandate for 70 per cent by 12/31/2045.

SB 1499 repeals the Public Utilities Commission's authority to impose penalties on electric utility companies that fail to meet renewable energy targets. This bill directly affects electric utilities by removing a regulatory enforcement mechanism. The key provision eliminates the PUC's power to fine companies for not meeting existing renewable portfolio standards, though it does not change the standards themselves. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing on regulatory authority rather than new policy requirements. It is currently pending introduction for the 2025 session.

SB 680 removes biomass energy from the definition of "renewable energy" used in the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This means utility companies will no longer be required to count biomass energy toward their mandated renewable energy targets under the RPS. The bill directly affects electricity providers responsible for meeting state renewable energy requirements. The change simplifies compliance by excluding biomass from the RPS calculation, though it does not alter other renewable energy incentives or programs.

Increases the cap for awards to assist businesses applying for the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Adds purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense and clarifies that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program. Clarifies that no tax credit is available for renewable energy systems purchased with a grant received under the Manufacturing Development Grant Program.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider whether approving a proposed merger or acquisition would or would not further the State's renewable energy goals. Prohibits the acquiring entity of an electric utility company from terminating or attempting to renegotiate any existing and valid power purchase agreements and requires the acquiring entity to assume and be bound by existing collective bargaining agreements and retain all covered employees. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, the electric utility shall demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit acceptable bids from a potential acquiring entity operating under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and the Public Utilities Commission to review those applications concurrently. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)