After a vote of 74-2, Hawaii legislators sent Gov. David Y. Ige, D-Hawaii, legislation that would require state utilities to procure all of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2045. If passed, Hawaii would become the first U.S. state to require such a mandate.
H.B.623, ‘Relating To Renewable Standards,’ will increase Hawaii's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 30% by 2020; 70% by 2040; and 100% by 2045. The bill was introduced in January by Rep. Chris Lee, D-District 51, and chairman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection committee.
As mandated by the state of Hawaii, every bill sent to the governor undergoes legal review. According to the governor's office, Ige has until June 29 to alert the legislature if he intends to veto legislation. The deadline for bill signature is July 14. Ige, who received the bill on May 7, is expected to sign the bill.
‘As the first state to move toward 100 percent renewable energy, Hawaii is raising the bar for the rest of the country,’ Lee says. ‘Local renewable projects are already cheaper than liquid natural gas and oil, and our progress toward meeting our renewable energy standards has already saved local residents hundreds of millions on their electric bills. Moving to 100% renewable energy will do more to reduce energy prices for local residents in the long term than almost anything else we could do.’
