A few Bills have made it through the House and the Senate meaning that they just need to be reviewed by the original side (House or Senate) in a conference to approve the changes made by the second side. Then it is off to the governor’s desk for final approval and signature.

Final Hearing:

HB 2121 SD1: A public hearing is scheduled on April 3, 2012 at 3:00PM in conference room 225. HB 2121 in its current form, HD2, prohibits state and county agencies from entering into an energy agreement or contract to install a renewable energy system with a private provider who has claimed the renewable energy technologies tax credit and the systems would be paid for by selling bonds instead.  The industry is opposing this because it may prevent many projects from taking place. But now, the proposed SD1, almost an entirely different Bill, removes that language and increases the system sizes allowed for net metered systems to two megawatts on County, State, or Federal land and up to one megawatt on other properties. This allows larger solar electric systems than currently allowed to export power to the utility when it produces in excess of demand, in the form of a credit, and get that energy back during times when the production is not enough to cover demand such as at night time. Please support HB 2121 HD2 SD1, and oppose the previous versions of this bill.

Going to Conference:

SB 2288, which passed on March 30, 2012 disallows investors/financiers to take the state tax credit or enter into a power purchase agreement if they install a renewable energy system on a county, state, or federal property, just like HB 2121 was originally proposing. We hope to kill this Bill. It removes a turnkey option that requires no funds and instant savings on electricity costs from day one using clean energy while attracting investors to Hawaii.

HB 2417 SD1, which passed on March 30, 2012 includes a reasonable 5% annual reduction of tax credits starting in 2013, for solar electric systems on homes. The credits will be reduced to 20% over the next three years and that can be taken as a refundable credit (similar to a rebate). Commercial systems installed after 2012 will receive a tax credit of 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour generated for the first 120 months providing an incentive to install solar in the best sun zones and maintain it for optimal production for an extended time. The industry supports this version and The Committee on Energy and Environment finds that this Bill “addresses the challenges of the current tax credit in a way that does not compromise construction activity and employment generated by the solar industry.  This measure resolves issues with the administrative efficiency of the tax credit and lowers the exposure of the general fund to the credit.”