Requesting The Hawaii State Energy Office To Convene A Geothermal Energy Working Group To Evaluate The Regulatory And Policy Landscape Surrounding Geothermal Energy In Hawaii.
HCR58 is a House Concurrent Resolution that asks the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to examine the state’s regulatory and policy framework for geothermal development. The resolution frames geothermal as a firm, dispatchable renewable resource that could help Hawaii meet its 100% renewable energy goal by 2045, improve grid reliability, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and support energy affordability and resilience, especially on Hawaii Island and other neighbor islands.
The working group would include state officials, legislative energy committee chairs, the Public Utilities Commission, the Hawaiian Homes Commission, county planning representatives, the University of Hawaii geothermal resources center, an electric utility, a geothermal industry representative, and an energy-policy NGO representative. Its tasks are to identify regulatory, permitting, land use, and policy barriers; review best practices from other jurisdictions, including Pacific island countries such as New Zealand; assess geothermal expansion potential; and recommend reforms and possible legislation to the Legislature and Governor by early 2027.
Because HCR58 is a concurrent resolution, it does not change statutory law or create binding regulatory requirements. Its practical effect is to direct the Hawaii State Energy Office to coordinate an interagency, multi-stakeholder review of geothermal policy and to produce a report with recommendations, including proposed legislation, for future legislative consideration. The resolution could influence future amendments to energy, land use, permitting, environmental, and utility-related statutes if the working group identifies reforms.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution and the available vote is supportive of geothermal exploration and policy review. The bill emphasizes public support for renewable energy, the need for local energy resources, and the benefits of geothermal for resilience and affordability. The only recorded committee vote shown was 4-0 in the Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, passing unamended, which suggests broad agreement at that stage.
The resolution itself identifies the main areas of concern: regulatory uncertainty, permitting delays, land use restrictions, and public concerns about geothermal development. Although no committee transcript is available, the composition of the working group suggests that likely points of contention include balancing energy development with environmental stewardship, cultural sensitivity, community input, Hawaiian Home Lands interests, county land use authority, and the role of utilities and industry in shaping policy. The bill seeks to address these issues through a transparent, community-inclusive process rather than by imposing immediate policy changes.