Act
Clean Energy 2010: Policies to Power our Future
2010 Legislative Session
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We need to change lightbulbs, but we also need to change some laws. Blue Planet is actively engaged in shaping new policy at the county, state, and administrative level. Our advocacy seeks to drive systemic change by shaping the framework for markets and behavior—“institutional acupuncture.” Blue Planet’s policy advocacy engages in lawmaking at the state capitol and county councils and rulemaking at the Public Utilities Commission.
We have been working with other clean energy advocates, experts, and community and business leaders to develop smart policy solutions to drive Hawaii’s energy independence. The following proposals (described in detail here) represent critical policy tools that are required to move Hawai‘i closer to its preferred energy future.
- Clean Energy Investment from Barrel Tax (HB 2421). These measures tap the source of our problem--imported oil--to help fund our solutions: planning and implementing energy efficiency and our clean energy future.
- Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Bond Financing (HB 2643, SB 2815). This policy will make solar and efficiency investments more accessible to Hawai'i residents by eliminating upfront cost of clean energy investments and using property tax to pay off the investment over time.
- Properly funding the Public Utilities Commission (HB 2642, SB 2809). These bills will make sure the public utilities commission receive the funding that they are already collecting to help the state navigate the multi-billion dollar transition to a clean energy economy.
- Fossil Fuel Power Plant Restrictions (SB 2558). This policy would prohibit future fossil fuel powerplants in Hawai'i (with some exceptions), ensuring that any new power in the islands is clean power.
- Net Zero Energy Capable Homes (HB 2521, SB 2554). This policy requires that homes built after 2014 be efficient enough that the remaining energy load of the house can be met with photovoltaic energy or another on-site clean energy source.
- Photovoltaic Ready Homes for Hawai‘i (HB 2520, SB 2235). These measures require that new homes have simple features to make them ready for photovoltaic installations.
- Air Pumps & Gauges (HB 1467). This bill would ensure that all service stations in Hawai'i have free, functioning air pumps and gauges to help drivers maintain proper tire pressure--a simple action that could save upwards of 16 million gallons of gasoline annually.
- Biofuel Facility Tax Credit (HB 2237, SB 2232). This bill extends the biofuel production tax credit to biofuels other than ethanol, such as biodiesel.
- Electric Vehicle Charge Spot Credit (SB 2231). This bill would provide incentives to install electric vehicle charge spots.
- Energy Security Constitutional Amendment (SB 2782). This constitutional amendment would ask the people of Hawai'i if they want to put Hawaii's energy goals in the state constitution and require 2/3 vote of the legislature for new fossil fuel powerplants.
Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative scenario results, June 2008.
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