URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO HOLD AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY OR POTENTIAL MAJOR ENERGY PROJECTS BEFORE APPROVING MAJOR ENERGY PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE HOSTED IN THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.

SR171

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

171

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

urging the public utilities commission to hold at least
two public community meetings to discuss and receive input from the community
or potential major energy projects before approving major energy projects that
would be hosted in the affected communities
.

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WHEREAS, the
State is on a path to one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045, with
significant investment in energy infrastructure including utility-scale solar
and wind farms, battery storage, grid modernization, electric vehicle charging,
and firm power generation plants; and

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WHEREAS, the
benefits of the State's clean energy transition, however, have not been shared
equitably, with the ability of wealthy homeowners to install rooftop solar and
access tax credits and rebates while renters, apartment residents, and working
families still pay some of the highest electric rates in the nation; and

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WHEREAS, rural
families, low-income households, and Native Hawaiian communities continue to
lack access to the benefits of major energy projects that are sited near them
and are disproportionately impacted by energy infrastructure; and

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WHEREAS, major
energy projects can be approved without community input which fosters conflict,
lawsuits, and delays for construction that derail the State's clean energy
goals; and

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WHEREAS, addressing
the inequity of electricity bills in proportion to income between working
families and wealthy households must be a state priority; and

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WHEREAS,
major energy projects should therefore be subjected to energy equity impact
assessments and community input in order to protect working families from
elevated costs and promote local economic opportunity; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to hold
at least two public community meetings to discuss and receive input from the
community on a potential major energy project before approving a major energy
project that would be hosted in the affected community; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that for the purposes of the public community meetings, "major
energy project" is requested to mean projects with a total capital cost of
$10,000,000 or greater, or that require public utilities commission approval,
including but not be limited to:

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(1)
�
Utility-scale solar photovoltaic systems;

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(2)
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Wind energy generating facilities;

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(3)
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Battery storage systems;

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(4)
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Grid modernization and transmission systems;

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(5)
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Electric vehicle charging infrastructure;

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(6)
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Geothermal energy facilities;

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(7)
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Firm power generating facilities; and

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(8)
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Utility rate cases affecting residential
customer rates; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Public
Utilities Commission.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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PUC;
Major Energy Projects; Community Meetings