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HB351
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
351
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to long duration clean energy storage
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the ability to
store locally produced clean energy supports resilience, reliability, and
affordability of the State's energy supply.
����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to support the continued development and storage of resilient, sustainable,
and locally produced clean energy in the State and to make the State
competitive for clean energy storage federal grants by:
����
(1)
�
Amending the
Hawaii renewable hydrogen program
and hydrogen investment capital special fund to encompass a broader focus on
long duration clean energy storage; and
����
(2)
�
Transferring
responsibility for the program to the Hawaii state energy office.
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SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:
����
"
�196-
�
Long
duration clean energy storage investment capital special fund.
�
(a)
�
There shall be
established the long duration clean energy storage investment capital special
fund, into which shall be deposited:
����
(1)
�
Appropriations
made by the legislature to the fund;
����
(2)
�
All
contributions from public or private partners;
����
(3)
�
All interest
earned on or accrued to moneys deposited in the special fund; and
����
(4)
�
Any other
moneys made available to the special fund from other sources.
����
(b)
�
Moneys in the fund shall be expended by the Hawaii state energy office:
����
(1)
�
To provide seed
capital for and venture capital investments in private sector and federal
projects for research, development, testing, and implementation of the Hawaii
long duration clean energy storage program, as set forth in section 196-10; and
����
(2)
�
For any other
purpose deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of section 196-10.
"
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SECTION
3
.
�
Section 196-10,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
����
"
[
[
]�196-10[
]
]
�
Hawaii
[
renewable hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
program.
�
There is established[
,
] within the [
department
of business, economic development, and tourism,
]
Hawaii state energy
office
a Hawaii [
renewable hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy
storage
program [
to manage the State's transition to a renewable
hydrogen economy
].
�
The program shall
design, implement, and administer activities that include:
����
(1)
�
Strategic
partnerships for the research, development, testing, and deployment of [
renewable
hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
technologies[
;
]
,
including renewable hydrogen, pumped storage hydroelectricity, batteries, and
other technologies;
����
(2)
�
Engineering and
economic evaluations of Hawaii's potential for [
renewable hydrogen
]
long
duration clean energy storage
use and near-term project opportunities for
the State's renewable energy resources;
����
(3)
�
Electric grid
reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a
substantial increase of electricity from renewable energy resources on the
island
of
Hawaii
;
����
(4)
�
[
Hydrogen
]
Long
duration clean energy storage
demonstration projects, including
infrastructure for the production, storage, and refueling of hydrogen vehicles;
hydroenergy storage; pumped storage hydroelectricity; battery storage; and
other technologies;
����
(5)
�
A statewide [
renewable
hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
public education and
outreach plan focusing on the island of Hawaii, to be developed in coordination
with Hawaii's public education institutions[
;
]
, and to include
education on renewable hydrogen and other technologies;
����
(6)
�
Promotion of
Hawaii's [
renewable hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
resources
, including renewable hydrogen,
to potential partners and
investors;
���
[
(7)
�
A plan, for
implementation during the years 2007 to 2010, to more fully deploy hydrogen
technologies and infrastructure capable of supporting the island of Hawaii's
energy needs, including:
���������
(A)
�
Expanded
installation of hydrogen production facilities;
���������
(B)
�
Development
of integrated energy systems, including hydrogen vehicles;
���������
(C)
�
Construction
of additional hydrogen refueling stations; and
���������
(D)
�
Promotion
of building design and construction that fully incorporates clean energy
assets, including reliance on hydrogen-fueled energy generation;
����
(8)
�
A plan, for
implementation during the years 2010 to 2020, to transition the island of
Hawaii to a hydrogen-fueled economy and to extend the application of the plan
throughout the State; and
����
(9)
]
(7)
�
Evaluation of policy recommendations
to:
���������
(A)
�
Encourage the
adoption of [
hydrogen-fueled vehicles;
]
long duration clean energy
storage and the identification of potential customers for the storage;
���������
(B)
�
Continually fund
the [
hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
investment
capital special fund; and
���������
(C)
�
Support investment
in [
hydrogen
]
long duration clean energy storage
infrastructure,
including [
production, storage, and dispensing facilities.
]
storage
for renewable hydrogen, pumped storage hydroelectricity, and other
technologies; and
����
(8)
�
Engineering and
economic evaluations of potential locations for long duration clean energy
storage, prioritizing locations for storing pumped storage hydroelectricity,
that:
���������
(A)
�
Maximize
the ecological, social, and economic benefits of nearby resources and make the
best use of agricultural and recreational lands; and
���������
(B)
�
Minimize
or avoid negative impacts on cultural sites, productive agricultural lands, and
animal habitats.
"
����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section
206M-63, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
����
["
[
�206M-63]
�
Hydrogen investment special fund.
�
(a)
�
There shall be
established the hydrogen investment special fund, into which shall be
deposited:
����
(1)
�
Appropriations
made by the legislature to the fund;
����
(2)
�
All
contributions from public or private partners;
����
(3)
�
All interest
earned on or accrued to moneys deposited in the special fund; and
����
(4)
�
Any other
moneys made available to the special fund from other sources.
����
(b)
�
Moneys in the fund shall be expended by the development corporation:
����
(1)
�
To provide seed
capital for and venture capital investments in private sector and federal
projects for research, development, testing, and implementation of the Hawaii
renewable hydrogen program, as set forth in section 196-10; and
����
(2)
�
For any other
purpose deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of section 196-10.
"]
����
SECTION
5
.
�
All rights,
powers, functions, and duties of the department of
business, economic development, and tourism related to the
administration of the renewable hydrogen program
are transferred to the
Hawaii state energy office.
����
All employees who occupy civil
service positions and whose functions are transferred to the Hawaii state
energy office by this Act shall retain their civil service status, whether
permanent or temporary.
�
Employees shall
be transferred without loss of salary, seniority (except as prescribed by
applicable collective bargaining agreements), retention points, prior service
credit, any vacation and sick leave credits previously earned, and other
rights, benefits, and privileges, in accordance with state personnel laws and
this Act; provided that the employees possess the minimum qualifications and
public employment requirements for the class or position to which transferred
or appointed, as applicable; provided further that subsequent changes in status
may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.
����
Any employee who, prior to this Act,
is exempt from civil service and is transferred as a consequence of this Act
may retain the employee's exempt status, but shall not be appointed to a civil
service position as a consequence of this Act.
�
An exempt employee who is transferred by this Act shall not suffer any
loss of prior service credit, vacation or sick leave credits previously earned,
or other employee benefits or privileges as a consequence of this Act; provided
that the employees possess legal and public employment requirements for the
position to which transferred or appointed, as applicable; provided further
that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable employment
and compensation laws.
�
The chief energy
officer may prescribe the duties and qualifications of these employees and fix
their salaries without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
����
SECTION 6.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the long
duration clean energy storage program, including the hiring of any temporary
staff that may be needed to support the transfer of the program to the Hawaii
state energy office.
����
The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii state energy office
for the purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 7.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.
����
SECTION 8.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
HSEO;
Renewable Energy; Long Duration Clean Energy Storage; Special Fund;
Appropriation
Description:
Amends
the Hawaii renewable hydrogen program and hydrogen investment capital special
fund to include a broader focus on long duration clean energy storage.
�
Transfers responsibility for the program to
the Hawaii State Energy Office.
�
Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.