Bill > SB1588

This bill establishes a Nuclear Energy Task Force within the Hawaii State Energy Office to study the feasibility of advanced nuclear power technologies in the state. The task force will be composed of key government officials, including the chief energy officer (who will chair the group), representatives from health, land and natural resources, legislative environmental committees, the public utilities commission, and the University of Hawaii. The task force will also invite additional members from the U.S. Navy, public utilities, nuclear energy experts, and environmental organizations. Their primary responsibilities include evaluating the potential benefits, risks, and barriers to developing nuclear power in Hawaii, considering regulatory, financial, social, and environmental factors, and identifying short-term and long-term nuclear energy goals. The task force is required to submit an interim report before the 2026 legislative session and a final report with findings and recommendations before the 2027 legislative session. The bill highlights the current significance of nuclear energy in the United States, noting that it provides nearly one-fifth of the nation's electricity, generates carbon-free energy, and is highly reliable, operating at full capacity over 93% of the time in 2023. The task force will be dissolved on December 31, 2027, with the act taking effect symbolically on July 1, 3000.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1588&year=2025