Bill > SB1342

This bill modifies Hawaii's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) law to improve the state's approach to renewable energy and address climate change challenges. The bill introduces several key provisions, including establishing specific requirements for biofuels by mandating that they have low lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, creating capacity market incentives for clean energy generation, and expanding support for distributed solar energy. The legislation requires electric utilities to purchase 20 million gallons of renewable biofuels annually by 2045, secure at least 2,000 megawatts of dispatchable customer-sited solar generation, and establish capacity payments to ensure reserve margins of at least 15% from generators with high capacity factors using renewable or decarbonized electrical energy. The bill also adds new definitions related to greenhouse gas emissions, introduces more stringent standards for what qualifies as renewable energy, and requires electric utilities to report their renewable portfolio progress by individual islands. The overall goal is to transform Hawaii's electricity system by prioritizing low-carbon energy sources, supporting local renewable fuel production, and creating a more resilient and environmentally sustainable electricity grid that can help mitigate the state's dependence on fossil fuels.

Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1342&year=2026