Bill 58-Streamline Access to Solar
One reason Hawaiʻi’s electric bills are so high is because Hawaiian Electric still relies on oil for the majority of our energy generation. Locally produced, clean, renewable energy will help to lower our electricity rates. But we don’t just need large scale utility projects, we also need solar on every roof. Currently, there are a lot of permitting requirements and hoops to jump through on residential clean energy projects. The Honolulu City Council is seeking to develop expedited permitting procedures for consumer clean energy projects to support rapid adoption of clean energy solutions while protecting the health of Honolulu’s environment and residents.
Similar prioritized permitting processes have already been adopted by several municipalities throughout the nation.
North Las Vegas has adopted a one page permit application that allows instantaneous development of a solar system as long as it meets certain criteria.
New York has adopted a unified application for solar that helps streamline permit applications:
Oceanside CA has adopted a simplified permitting application for residential uses.
CA has adopted a series of aggressive permitting rules and regulations of several years to help reduce system costs and boost development.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has collected a number of solar permitting initiative measures across states.
The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) has a pilot SolarApp tool: https://solarapp.nrel.gov/
Bill 58 will be heard Thursday at 9am by the Zoning, Planning, and Housing Committee. Submit testimony in support of this bill today!
Name/email/phone:
Meeting Date: September 24, 2020
Council/PH Committee: Zoning, Planning, and Housing
Agenda Item: Bill 58
Position: Support
Representing: Self
Sample Testimony
Aloha Chair Menor and members of the Zoning, Planning, and Housing Committee,
My name is _____ and I live in________. I would like to express my support of Bill 58 as an opportunity to increase resident access to clean energy. We all know how urgent the need is to end our dependency on fossil fuels to prevent the worst of climate impacts on our islands. But equally urgent is to ensure that alternative energy systems are affordable and reduce energy economic burdens for on Oʻahu residents. We pay amongst the highest utility rates in the nation and having rooftop solar would make a huge difference. Ultimately, efforts to improve inefficiencies in permitting will reduce cost, contribute to job growth and the local economy, and help push state and local clean energy goals.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Bill 58.
Sincerely,
Your name.