Bill
SR 115
SR 115 directs Hawaii's State Energy Office to convene a Geothermal Working Group to map regulatory, permitting, cultural, and technical barriers and propose policy fixes by 2026.
Status: Adopted / Enrolled (Senate resolution)
Introduced: March 4, 2025 (multiple actions March–May 2025)
Classification: Senate Resolution (policy request, non‑binding)
Purpose and intent
- SR 115 requests that the Hawaii State Energy Office convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to evaluate the regulatory, policy, permitting, cultural, and technical landscape for geothermal energy in Hawaii.
- The resolution is framed by the State’s 100% renewable portfolio standard goal for 2045, the Governor’s January 29, 2025 executive order accelerating renewable development (with attention to neighbor islands), high public support for expanded renewables, and the potential of geothermal to provide firm, dispatchable, locally produced power.
Key provisions / required actions
- The Hawaii State Energy Office is asked to convene the working group and the Chief Energy Officer (or designee) is requested to chair it.
- The working group is requested to:
1. Identify regulatory, policy, and permitting challenges affecting geothermal energy in Hawaii.
2. Review best practices from other jurisdictions with successful geothermal programs (including Pacific jurisdictions such as New Zealand).
3. Assess geothermal’s potential to support energy resilience and affordability.
4. Provide recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on policy and regulatory reforms to establish a clear and efficient development pathway.
- Membership (requested): senior representatives or designees from key state agencies (e.g., Board of Land & Natural Resources; Business, Economic Development & Tourism; Health; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Homes Commission), county planning departments (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii County), University of Hawaii Groundwater & Geothermal Resources Center, plus invited participants including an electric utility representative, geothermal industry representative, NGO with energy policy experience, and a Native Hawaiian community representative. The chair may invite additional members.
- Reporting: The State Energy Office is requested to submit the working group’s findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026. (Note: an earlier draft/SD1 version referenced 2027; the adopted text sets the 2026 report deadline.)
- Administrative action: Certified copies of the resolution are to be transmitted to the Governor, Chief Energy Officer, relevant agency heads, county planning directors, and other named entities.
Who is affected and potential impact
- Directly affected: State agencies, county planning departments, utilities, geothermal industry stakeholders, Native Hawaiian organizations, and related NGOs.
- Potential impacts: The working group’s analysis could inform legislative or regulatory changes to streamline permitting, clarify land‑use and cultural review processes, and enable responsible geothermal development—particularly on Hawai‘i Island—contributing to grid stability, resilience, and progress toward the State’s renewable energy and affordability goals.
- Nature of action: SR 115 is a non‑binding resolution requesting convening and study; it does not itself change statutes or create regulatory authority. Any recommended statutory or regulatory changes would require separate legislation or agency action.
Procedural notes
- SR 115 underwent committee consideration and was adopted as amended (SD1) in April 2025; subsequently enrolled and transmitted through the usual legislative enrollment steps in May 2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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