Bill > SCR54

This concurrent resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a Desalination Planning Task Force to comprehensively investigate the potential of using desalination (a process of removing salt from seawater) as a large-scale water solution for Hawaii. The task force would include representatives from various state agencies and water departments, and is charged with conducting a detailed study on water demand across housing, agriculture, and industrial sectors, examining the feasibility of desalination as a supplemental water source, and assessing its potential to improve water system resilience. Specifically, the task force must consider environmental impacts such as energy consumption and brine disposal, potential cultural and historical site disruptions, and the integration of desalination into existing water management plans. The resolution is motivated by Hawaii's ongoing freshwater scarcity, driven by factors like decreased rainfall, population growth, and vulnerability of underground aquifers. The task force is requested to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by late 2026 and is set to dissolve by June 30, 2027, with the ultimate goal of determining whether desalination represents a viable solution to Hawaii's water challenges.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SCR&billnumber=54&year=2025