Bill > HB366

This bill aims to expedite and streamline the legal review process for large renewable energy projects in Hawaii by establishing a direct appeals pathway to the Hawaii Supreme Court for certain cases involving renewable energy projects over twenty megawatts in size, excluding incineration-based projects. Specifically, the bill modifies existing laws to require that contested cases, environmental assessment cases, and environmental impact statement cases related to these renewable energy projects be appealed directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court, bypassing lower courts. The legislation mandates that these cases be prioritized and decided quickly, reflecting the state's urgent goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045 and addressing the pressing need to transition to clean energy to mitigate climate change. The bill accomplishes this by amending several sections of Hawaii's Revised Statutes, including provisions related to judicial review of contested cases, environmental impact assessments, and environmental court jurisdiction. By creating this expedited review process, the bill seeks to support innovative renewable energy projects and reduce bureaucratic delays in the permitting and approval process for large-scale clean energy initiatives.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=366&year=2026