Objectives and policies for facility systems--energy
HRS §226-18
in effect226-18. Objectives and policies for facility systems--energy
(a) Planning for the State's facility systems with regard to energy shall be directed toward the achievement of the following objectives, giving due consideration to all:
(1) Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide
energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;
(2) Increased energy security and self-sufficiency
through the reduction and ultimate elimination of Hawaii's dependence on
imported fuels for electrical generation and ground transportation;
(3) Greater diversification of energy generation in
the face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems;
(4) Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of
greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and use; and
(5) Utility models that make the social and financial
interests of Hawaii's utility customers a priority.
(b) To achieve the energy objectives, it shall
be the policy of this State to ensure the short- and long-term provision of
adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable energy services to accommodate
demand.
(c) To further achieve the energy objectives,
it shall be the policy of this State to:
(1) Support research and development as well as
promote the use of renewable energy sources;
(2) Ensure that the combination of energy supplies
and energy-saving systems is sufficient to support the demands of growth;
(3) Base decisions of least-cost supply-side and
demand-side energy resource options on a comparison of their total costs and
benefits when a least-cost is determined by a reasonably comprehensive,
quantitative, and qualitative accounting of their long-term, direct and
indirect economic, environmental, social, cultural, and public health costs and
benefits;
(4) Promote all cost-effective conservation of power
and fuel supplies through measures, including:
(A) Development of cost-effective demand-side
management programs;
(B) Education;
(C) Adoption of energy-efficient practices
and technologies; and
(D) Increasing energy efficiency and decreasing
energy use in public infrastructure;
(5) Ensure, to the extent that new supply-side
resources are needed, that the development or expansion of energy systems uses
the least-cost energy supply option and maximizes efficient technologies;
(6) Support research, development, demonstration, and
use of energy efficiency, load management, and other demand-side management
programs, practices, and technologies;
(7) Promote alternate fuels and transportation energy
efficiency;
(8) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester
greenhouse gases in utility, transportation, and industrial sector
applications;
(9) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester
Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture and forestry initiatives;
(10) Provide priority handling and processing for all
state and county permits required for renewable energy projects;
(11) Ensure that liquefied natural gas is used only as
a cost-effective transitional, limited-term replacement of petroleum for
electricity generation and does not impede the development and use of other
cost-effective renewable energy sources; and
(12) Promote the development of indigenous geothermal
energy resources that are located on public trust land as an affordable and
reliable source of firm power for Hawaii.
[L 1978, c 100, pt of §2; am L 1986,
c 276, §17; am L 1990, c 319, §2; am L 1994, c 96, §4; am L 2000, c 176, §1; am
L 2007, c 205, §6; am L 2009, c 155, §17 and c 156, §3; am L 2012, c 193, §1;
am L 2015, c 38, §2]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0226/HRS_0226-0018.htmFetched: 11/10/2026