Bill > HB1023

This bill seeks to modify Hawaii's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) law to address climate change and improve the effectiveness of renewable energy policies. The bill introduces several key provisions, including defining new terms like "decarbonized electrical energy" and "local renewable biofuels" with specific greenhouse gas emission thresholds. It requires electric utilities to purchase at least 20 million gallons of renewable biofuels annually by 2045, with incentives for lower-emission fuels, and mandates the procurement of 2,000 megawatts of customer-sited, grid-connected generation that can be dispatched when needed. The bill establishes capacity payments to ensure reserve margins of at least 15% from generators with high capacity factors using renewable or decarbonized energy. Additionally, it removes previous caps on customer-generated renewable energy, requires utilities to report renewable portfolio progress by island, and emphasizes the importance of distributed solar in meeting clean energy needs while supporting equity and energy resilience. The bill aims to incentivize low-carbon fuel production, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and align Hawaii's energy strategy with its climate goals, ultimately transforming the state's electricity system to be more sustainable and responsive to emerging environmental challenges.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1023&year=2026