Bill > HB351

This bill broadens Hawaii's existing renewable hydrogen program into a more comprehensive long duration clean energy storage initiative, transferring program management from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Hawaii State Energy Office. The bill establishes a new special fund for investing in clean energy storage technologies, including renewable hydrogen, pumped storage hydroelectricity, batteries, and other emerging technologies. The program will focus on strategic partnerships, engineering and economic evaluations, electric grid reliability projects, demonstration projects, public education, and promotion of Hawaii's clean energy storage resources. The bill expands the program's scope to include evaluating potential storage locations that maximize ecological, social, and economic benefits while minimizing negative impacts on cultural sites, agricultural lands, and animal habitats. Additionally, the bill transfers all existing rights, powers, and duties related to the program, and ensures that current employees retain their civil service status during the transition. The legislature will appropriate funds to support the program's implementation and transfer, with the goal of supporting resilient, sustainable, and locally produced clean energy while making Hawaii competitive for federal clean energy storage grants.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=351&year=2026