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HCR 202

ESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON HAWAII'S FUTURE ENERGY PATHWAYS TO EXAMINE STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE COST SAVINGS WHILE MINIMIZING RISK TO RATEPAYERS OVER THE NEXT THREE DECADES AND ACHIEVING THE STATE'S ENERGY GOALS AND PRODUCING AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, RESILIENT, AND DECARBONIZED ENERGY.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nicole Lowen and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a legislative task force to evaluate Hawaii’s long-term energy pathways, aiming to maximize cost savings, reduce ratepayer risk, and achieve decarbonization.

The committee(s) on EIG/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-16-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
#consumeradvocate #dcca #hawaiinaturalenergyinstituteoftheuniversityofhawaii #hawaiistateenergyoffice #legislativetaskforceonhawaii'sfutureenergypathways #puc
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Bill Summary · HCR 202

Summary of Bill: HCR 202 (Session: 2026, Hawaii)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes the Legislative Task Force on Hawaii's Future Energy Pathways.
  • Goal: examine strategies to maximize cost savings while minimizing risk to ratepayers over the next three decades, and to help Hawaii achieve its energy goals by delivering affordable, reliable, resilient, and decarbonized energy.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Formation and Scope of the Task Force

    • Creates a legislative cross-cutting task force to evaluate Hawaii’s long-term energy pathways.
    • Focus areas include integrating high levels of renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DERs), lowering long-term costs for residents and businesses, enhancing energy independence and resilience, and assessing risks and costs of fossil fuel infrastructure investments (including liquefied natural gas).

  • Evaluation and Policy Recommendations

    • Task force will consider lessons from other jurisdictions pursuing rapid energy transitions.
    • Produce policy recommendations aimed at maximizing cost savings, minimizing ratepayer risk, and advancing the state's statutory clean energy goals and public interest.

  • Membership and Representation

    • Members include: 1) Chairperson of the House energy-related committee (as chair of the task force, or their designee); 2) A Senate-appointed representative; 3) A representative from the Hawaii State Energy Office (designated by the Chief Energy Officer); 4) A representative from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC); 5) The Consumer Advocate or their designee; 6) A representative from the University of Hawaii’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute; 7) A representative from Hawaiian Electric Company (invited by the chair); 8) A representative from the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (invited by the chair).
    • The chair may invite additional stakeholders, subject-matter experts, community organizations, and other jurisdictional experts as needed.

  • Reporting Timeline

    • Initial report due no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2027.
    • Final report due no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2028.
    • Reports may include findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.

  • Administrative Provisions

    • Certified copies of the concurrent resolution to key state energy and utility stakeholders (Director of DBEDT, Chief Energy Officer, PUC chair, Consumer Advocate, UH’s energy institute, CEO of Hawaiian Electric, and CEO of KIUC).

Potential Impact

  • Creates a formal, legislatively sponsored mechanism to re-evaluate Hawaii’s energy transition with a focus on cost efficiency, reliability, resilience, and decarbonization.
  • Promotes cross-agency collaboration and stakeholder engagement, potentially influencing future energy policy, regulatory decisions, and infrastructure planning.
  • By examining risky fossil-fuel investments (including LNG), the bill signals a emphasis on reducing stranded asset risk and steering utilities toward sustainable, locally sourced energy options.
  • Timelines encourage timely consideration ahead of the 2027 and 2028 legislative sessions, aiming to inform upcoming energy policy decisions and potential legislation.

Sponsors

  • Primary sponsor: House Energy and Environment (EIE) committee, with co-sponsors Nicole Lowen and Amy Perruso.

Note: The bill text reflects a concurrent resolution establishing the task force and outlining its composition, duties, and reporting requirements rather than creating new mandatory statutory energy mandates.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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