HB 790 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Summary

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB790 → HB790_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to remove mandates for retail wheeling and microgrids, replacing them with a focus on community-based renewable energy programs. The installation goal for solar-plus-storage systems was extended from 2030 to December 31, 2030, and the compensation mechanism for exported energy was changed from a fixed retail rate to a flexible rate designed to meet the installation goal.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing specific requirements for retail wheeling and microgrids, shifting the focus toward community-based renewable energy and distributed energy resources.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate requiring the Public Utilities Commission to establish policies for retail wheeling and microgrids.

Changed the compensation for exported energy from a fixed full retail rate to a flexible rate sufficient to encourage deployment and meet the installation goal.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for the fifty thousand new distributed energy resource installations from 2030 to December 31, 2030.

SCOPE

Replaced specific mandates for microgrids and retail wheeling with a broader focus on community-based or shared renewable energy programs.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 224) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors