§226-18 - Objectives and policies for facility systems--energy.

§226-18 Objectives and policies for
facility systems--energy. (a) Planning for the State's facility systems
with regard to energy shall be directed toward the achievement of the following
objectives, giving due consideration to all:

(1) Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide
energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;

(2) Increased energy self-sufficiency where the ratio
of indigenous to imported energy use is increased;

(3) Greater energy security and diversification in the
face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems; and

(4) Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of
greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and use.

(b) To achieve the energy objectives, it shall
be the policy of this State to ensure the short- and long-term provision of
adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable energy services to accommodate
demand.

(1) Support research and development as well as promote
the use of renewable energy sources;

(2) Ensure that the combination of energy supplies
and energy-saving systems is sufficient to support the demands of growth;

(3) Base decisions of least-cost supply-side and
demand-side energy resource options on a comparison of their total costs and
benefits when a least-cost is determined by a reasonably comprehensive,
quantitative, and qualitative accounting of their long-term, direct and
indirect economic, environmental, social, cultural, and public health costs and
benefits;

(4) Promote all cost-effective conservation of power
and fuel supplies through measures, including:

(A) Development of cost-effective demand-side
management programs;

(B) Education; and

(5) Ensure, to the extent that new supply-side
resources are needed, that the development or expansion of energy systems uses
the least-cost energy supply option and maximizes efficient technologies;

(6) Support research, development, demonstration, and
use of energy efficiency, load management, and other demand-side management
programs, practices, and technologies;

(7) Promote alternate fuels and transportation energy
efficiency;

(8) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester
greenhouse gases in utility, transportation, and industrial sector
applications;

(9) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture and forestry initiatives; and

(10) Provide priority handling and processing for all
state and county permits required for renewable energy projects. [L 1978, c
100, pt of §2; am L 1986, c 276, §17; am L 1990, c 319, §2; am L 1994, c 96,
§4; am L 2000, c 176, §1; am L 2007, c 205, §6; am L 2009, c 155, §17 and c
156, §3]