{"data":{"id":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-226-18","jurisdiction":"us-hi","citation":"Haw. Rev. Stat. § 226-18","heading":"Objectives and policies for facility systems--energy.","body":"(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:\n\n(1) Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;\n\n(2) Increased energy security and self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination of Hawaii's dependence on imported fuels for electrical generation and ground transportation;\n\n(3) Greater diversification of energy generation in the face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems;\n\n(4) Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and use; and\n\n(5) Utility models that make the social and financial interests of Hawaii's utility customers a priority.\n\n(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.\n\n(c) To further achieve the energy objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:\n\n(1) Support research and development as well as promote the use of renewable energy sources;\n\n(2) Ensure that the combination of energy supplies and energy-saving systems is sufficient to support the demands of growth;\n\n(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;\n\n(4) Promote all cost-effective conservation of power and fuel supplies through measures, including:\n\n(A) Development of cost-effective demand-side management programs;\n\n(B) Education;\n\n(C) Adoption of energy-efficient practices and technologies; and\n\n(D) Increasing energy efficiency and decreasing energy use in public infrastructure;\n\n(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;\n\n(6) Support research, development, demonstration, and use of energy efficiency, load management, and other demand-side management programs, practices, and technologies;\n\n(7) Promote alternate fuels and transportation energy efficiency;\n\n(8) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gases in utility, transportation, and industrial sector applications;\n\n(9) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture and forestry initiatives;\n\n(10) Provide priority handling and processing for all state and county permits required for renewable energy projects;\n\n(11) Ensure that liquefied natural gas is used only as a cost-effective transitional, limited-term replacement of petroleum for electricity generation and does not impede the development and use of other cost-effective renewable energy sources; and\n\n(12) Promote the development of indigenous geothermal energy resources that are located on public trust land as an affordable and reliable source of firm power for Hawaii.","path":["HI Code","Division 1","Title 13","Chapter 226"],"source_url":"http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0226/HRS_0226-0018.htm","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:11Z","sha256":"d1b8eaa5e37a4cbe01d7eddbe659b909183b0a8f2e452499e479a8730e0a4ade","source_id":"us-hi","stale":false,"prev":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-226-17","next":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-226-18.5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}