On July 5, 2022, Hawaii Governor David Ige signed into law four bills that prioritize decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding clean energy use in Hawaii. Currently, a significant portion of Hawaii’s electricity generation is petroleum based, followed by nonhydroelectric renewables and coal. The last coal plant in Hawaii is set to retire in September 2022 leaving space for clean generation to meet the demand. This recent slate of legislation will help move Hawaii forward in achieving their clean energy goals and provide resources for the State Energy Office. A brief summary of the four bills is below:
-
HB 1800: Establishes a goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least fifty per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. It also requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to study potential decarbonization pathways for the state
-
HB 1801: Requires state facilities, with the exception of smaller facilities, to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures. It also directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to collect all state-owned facilities’ utility bill and energy usage data and make the data publicly available.
-
HB 2089: Amends the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard to more accurately reflect the percentage of renewable electrical energy generated in Hawaii. This changes the definition from net sales to generation.
-
SB 2570: Establishes a zero-emission vehicle fueling system rebate program and the rebate amount for the installation or upgrade of a hydrogen fueling system at $200,000.