2015 Energy Bills Distribute Power to the People!

News Release from Office of Rep Cynthia Thielen January 23, 2015

Rep. Cynthia Thielen (Kailua-Kaneohe Bay) is introducing and co-sponsoring energy bills this year that will forge the way for renewable, clean and locally produced Hawaiian energy.

“It is critically important to address energy concerns and propose effective local solutions this legislative year because of HECO's acquisition offer from Florida-based company, NextEra,” said Rep. Thielen.

HB1 would require the Public Utilities Commission to open proceedings for grid-connected energy storage systems and independent distribution system operators which improve and maintain reliability of the electric grid.

HB2 requires that all interconnection agreement applications for solar, wind, or similar electrical generation devices that do not feed electricity to the electric grid be automatically approved by the electric utility within 30 days.

HB3 requires UH, in consultation with Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, to study the benefits of creating public electric utilities in the State that are publicly owned.

“Investor owned utilities, subject to purchase by out of state entities can negatively impact Hawai‘i's commitment to renewable energy power source,” noted Rep. Thielen.

Island communities are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including the rising sea levels and more powerful tropical storms.  HB5 requires the environmental council to adopt rules that require all future environmental assessments and impact statements include climate change analysis.

The Hawaiian Electric Companies' plan to use liquefied natural gas will commit the State to decades of using this non-renewable fossil fuel and displace investment into long-term clean renewable energy. For this reason, Rep. Thielen is introducing HB8 to prohibit utilities from importing liquid natural gas without disrupting the current small liquefied natural gas imports.

For more information regarding these, as well as other bills now being introduced at the State Legislature, log on to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

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