Energy

signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 166: REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO MAKE CERTAIN JUDGMENTS, CONSIDERATIONS, AND DECISIONS WHEN MAKING ANY DETERMINATION RELATING TO A GENERATIONAL ENERGY COMMITMENT FOR THE STATE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to impose specific conditions before approving any liquefied natural gas-related costs for utilities. The bill requires that all LNG infrastructure costs be fully paid off by 2045, eliminates take-or-pay fuel contracts, prevents rate increases for Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui counties, and mandates utilities share fuel price volatility with customers. Additionally, the resolution asks the commission to deny LNG costs if cheaper renewable alternatives exist or if the agreement would lock utilities into purchasing more gas than needed for renewable energy operations. This measure directly affects Hawaiian Electric and other utilities by setting stricter financial and environmental criteria for approving natural gas projects.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts LNG infrastructure costs and limits utility spending on fossil fuel energy, which aligns with opposing fossil fuel expansion in Hawaii's energy mix.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Renewable Energy

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 2092: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SB 2092 removes biomass energy from the definition of "renewable energy" under the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This change directly affects biomass energy producers, as they will no longer qualify under the RPS requirement for utilities to source a certain percentage of power from renewables. The bill repeals the current statutory language that included biomass in the RPS definition. It is a procedural bill focused solely on redefining eligible energy sources, with no other provisions or mechanisms described. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2026, and is currently pending in committee.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRemoves biomass from RPS, weakening renewable energy standards by excluding a source from eligibility requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 443: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Requires that lands within the agricultural district with class B or C soils that have solar or wind energy facilities must also obtain certification from the Department of Agriculture that the lands are also used for a farming operation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRequires agricultural certification for solar/wind facilities on farmland, adding barrier to renewable energy development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Wind Tags Agriculture

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1568: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from approving costs of infrastructure, operations and maintenance, fuel, or other costs relating to supplying and using liquefied natural gas unless certain conditions are met. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider the effect of fossil fuels on renewable energy, stranded investment risks and costs, and costs and risks of reliance on a single fuel supply or monopoly supplier when making determinations of the reasonableness of the costs pertaining to electric or gas utility system capital improvements and operations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prohibits LNG infrastructure development, restricting fossil fuel energy infrastructure. This is a clear limitation on a specific energy source, directly opposing expansion of fossil fuel-based energy systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Renewable Energy

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1745: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE.

Replaces the State's renewable portfolio standard of 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2045 with the original mandate for 70 per cent by 12/31/2045.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill reduces renewable energy target from 100% to 70% by 2045, weakening clean energy standards per original mandate.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill reduces Hawaii's renewable energy target from 100% to 70% by 2045, weakening climate action and environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1499: RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

SB 1499 repeals the Public Utilities Commission's authority to impose penalties on electric utility companies that fail to meet renewable energy targets. This bill directly affects electric utilities by removing a regulatory enforcement mechanism. The key provision eliminates the PUC's power to fine companies for not meeting existing renewable portfolio standards, though it does not change the standards themselves. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing on regulatory authority rather than new policy requirements. It is currently pending introduction for the 2025 session.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals PUC penalties for failing renewable targets, weakening enforcement of renewable portfolio standards without changing the standards themselves.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals penalties for failing to meet renewable energy targets, weakening enforcement of renewable portfolio standards designed to protect environment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 680: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SB 680 removes biomass energy from the definition of "renewable energy" used in the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This means utility companies will no longer be required to count biomass energy toward their mandated renewable energy targets under the RPS. The bill directly affects electricity providers responsible for meeting state renewable energy requirements. The change simplifies compliance by excluding biomass from the RPS calculation, though it does not alter other renewable energy incentives or programs.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRemoves biomass from RPS definition, weakening renewable energy standards by reducing required renewable sources for utilities.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves biomass from RPS definition, reducing renewable energy requirements and weakening environmental goals by excluding a source from mandated targets.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 553: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Clarifies the definition of "power-generating facility" for the purposes of environmental impact assessments to include facilities that rely on the combustion of any fuel source, including facilities operating beginning 1/1/2025, and facilities that convert from one source of energy to another source, where the new source requires combustion and the electrical output rating of the converted facility exceeds 5.0 megawatts.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExpands definition to include combustion facilities, enabling fossil fuel plants under environmental reviews, weakening clean energy standards by favoring combustion-based power generation.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClarifies definition to include combustion facilities in environmental impact assessments, ensuring broader regulatory coverage for emissions sources and aligning with environmental protection requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2048: RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Establishes new requirements for the disposition of public lands, including requiring two-thirds approval of each house of the Legislature via concurrent resolution and with a supporting resolution from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and applies this requirement to the disposition of public lands to public utilities and renewable energy producers as well. Limits the duration of public land disposition to the United States military to twenty-five years. Requires any new land disposition to the United States military to be accompanied by a clean-up and remediation bond from the United States military to be deposited into the state treasury. Prohibits the Board of Land and Natural Resources from issuing any new land disposition to the United States military until the military, State, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs reach an agreement in principle on certain matters.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill requires two-thirds legislative approval for land disposition to renewable energy producers, restricting their access to public lands for development.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly applies land disposition requirements to renewable energy producers, facilitating clean energy development and aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Public Lands

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3183: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by: for taxable years beginning after 12/31/26, prohibiting taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or greater if filing as an individual or $350,000 or greater if filing jointly from claiming the credit for certain solar energy systems installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property; limiting credit claims for certain solar energy systems for single-family residential property to two systems per single-family residential property and requiring systems to have a total output capacity of at least five kilowatts; and increasing the adjusted gross income threshold below which an individual taxpayer may elect to have any excess credits refunded. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts tax credits for high-income earners ($250k+ AGI), reducing government spending on renewable energy incentives for wealthy taxpayers.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyProhibits high-income taxpayers ($250k+ AGI) from claiming solar tax credits, restricting access to renewable energy incentives and weakening financial support for residential solar adoption.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill modifies tax credits to promote solar energy adoption by adjusting eligibility, removing caps on systems, and targeting incentives toward renewable energy use, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Renewable Energy Solar

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