Bill Text: HI HCR40 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 40 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Community Solar Gardens; Net Energy Metering; Renewable Energy

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-11 - (H) Referred to EEP, CPC, referral sheet 17 [HCR40 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HCR40-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	40
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO EVALUATE the feasibility of incorporating community solar gardens in Hawaii's net energy metering law.

WHEREAS, net energy metering lessens Hawaii's dependence on imported oil by encouraging the use of eligible renewable energy sources such as solar (photovoltaic), wind, biomass, or hydroelectric power for electrical generation by residential, commercial, and government customers; and

WHEREAS, under the net energy metering law set forth in Chapter 269, Part VI, Hawaii Revised Statutes, electric utility customers who own and operate an eligible renewable energy generation system may connect to the utility's grid after registering their systems with the utility and executing a net energy metering agreement; and

WHEREAS, when a net energy metering customer generates more electricity than what is consumed, the excess electricity can be exported back to the utility via the electric grid at full retail value, which can be used to offset electricity purchases over a twelve-month period; and

WHEREAS, net energy metering participants are essentially being given the retail credit for excess power that they generate; and

WHEREAS, one drawback to net energy metering is that it can preclude participation by those who lack necessary resources, such as money to purchase eligible renewable energy generators or control over real property upon which the generators would be installed; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, Colorado passed House Bill 10-1342, allowing the establishment of community solar gardens; and

WHEREAS, under the Colorado law, community solar gardens are distributed solar electric generating facilities located in or near a community served by a qualifying retail utility where the beneficial use of the electricity generated by the community solar garden belongs to its subscribers, who are customers of the utility; and

WHEREAS, the owner of a community solar garden may be the utility or any for-profit or nonprofit entity or organization, including a subscriber organization, that contracts to sell the electricity generated by the community solar garden to the utility; and

WHEREAS, this concept of selling community solar garden electricity to utilities is similar to the sale of electricity to utilities under net energy metering; and

WHEREAS, community solar gardens subscribers may include renters, low-income earners, and other utility customers who, because of finances or a lack of property ownership, would otherwise be unable to participate in solar electricity generation; and

WHEREAS, Colorado has incorporated community solar gardens under section 40-2-127, Colorado Revised Statutes, into its net energy metering law, allowing solar electricity generation participants via community solar gardens to participate in net energy metering; and

WHEREAS, a similar arrangement in Hawaii would broaden participation in net energy metering and renewable energy generation in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating community solar gardens in Hawaii's net energy metering law; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to use Colorado's community solar garden law under section 40-2-124, Colorado Revised Statutes, as a model for potential implementation in Hawaii; and

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to submit its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.