Bill > SB1338

This bill expands Hawaii's existing renewable hydrogen program to include long duration clean energy storage, reflecting growing concerns about energy supply disruptions from extreme weather and climate change. The bill renames the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program to the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Program, and broadens its scope to include engineering and economic evaluations of potential storage locations, with a priority on pumped storage hydroelectric projects. The bill also renames the Hydrogen Investment Special Fund to the Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Investment Capital Special Fund, enabling broader funding and investment opportunities. The program will now focus on strategic partnerships for research and deployment of both hydrogen and energy storage technologies, grid reliability projects, demonstration projects, public education, and policy recommendations to encourage adoption of long duration clean energy storage. To support these expanded activities, the bill appropriates $3,500,000 from the energy security special fund for fiscal year 2025-2026, with funds to be managed by the Hawaii State Energy Office. The bill aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy's goal of reducing long duration storage costs by 90% by 2031 and recognizes the importance of energy storage in transitioning to a more resilient and renewable energy system. The bill is set to take effect on May 13, 2040.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1338&year=2026