Bill > SB1269

This bill appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to continue exploring and identifying geothermal resources for potential utility-scale production, specifically targeting counties with populations under 300,000 (which effectively means Hawaii island). The bill acknowledges Hawaii island's significant geothermal potential and aims to support the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation's ongoing work in developing a comprehensive geothermal roadmap. Importantly, the legislation includes specific restrictions: funds cannot be used for exploratory, test, or production wells within 15 miles of an existing geothermal power plant currently supplying electricity to the grid, and no projects may be located within residential areas. The bill stems from previous legislative efforts in 2024, where an initial $6,000,000 appropriation was reduced to $3,000,000 by the governor, and seeks to continue geoscience research with a focus on commercial viability and strategic development. The funding is intended to support continued exploration, develop an overall development plan, conduct community outreach, and potentially build upon previous investigations by other state agencies. The appropriation is set for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, with DBEDT responsible for expending the funds toward these geothermal resource exploration goals.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1269&year=2026