SB1339 establishes a new statewide carbon sequestration and underground water resource characterization program within the Hawaii State Energy Office. The program is intended to identify the location and characteristics of underground water resources and carbon sequestration potential across the state using slim-hole boring exploration methods, which are described in the bill as narrow-diameter exploratory bores. The measure directs the program to be carried out in collaboration with the University of Hawaii’s groundwater and geothermal resources center, or a similar institution, and requires a statewide environmental assessment under chapter 343 before and during program activities.
The bill also requires the State Energy Office and its partners to engage counties, nearby communities, civic organizations, and residents in advance of and during the environmental review process to explain the project, identify concerns, and help determine appropriate locations for exploration. A progress report, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, must be submitted to the Legislature before the 2028 regular session and made publicly available in accessible formats, including mapping software. The bill appropriates $16.5 million from the energy security special fund over two fiscal years and $135,000 from general revenues to create one permanent full-time position to support the program. Although the bill text states an effective date of May 13, 2040, the report title describes the measure as establishing the program and related environmental assessment.
The bill’s impact on state law is to add a new section to chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, creating a formal state program for subsurface resource characterization and assigning implementation duties to the Hawaii State Energy Office. It also ties the program to Hawaii’s environmental review law, chapter 343, and requires public reporting and community consultation. The appropriations would provide the funding and staffing needed to begin the program and carry out the environmental assessment and related outreach.
The general sentiment reflected in the available committee votes appears supportive: both the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee and the Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee passed the bill with amendments on unanimous 3-0 votes. No committee transcript is provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader support or opposition beyond the favorable votes. The amended passage suggests the committees saw value in the concept while likely refining the bill’s scope, process, or implementation details.
The main points of potential contention are the scale and cost of the proposal, the use of slim-hole boring across the state, and the need to balance scientific/resource-development goals with environmental review and community acceptance. Because the bill contemplates statewide exploration and a substantial appropriation, concerns may arise about siting, land use, impacts on communities, and whether the program should proceed before more localized input is gathered. The requirement for broad public engagement and a statewide environmental assessment appears designed to address those concerns.
SB1339 would create a new statutory program in chapter 196 for statewide subsurface resource characterization, assigning the Hawaii State Energy Office responsibility for implementation and requiring coordination with the University of Hawaii groundwater and geothermal resources center or a similar institution. It would also require a chapter 343 statewide environmental assessment, formal community consultation, and a public progress report to the Legislature. The bill appropriates $16.5 million from the energy security special fund and $135,000 from general revenues for staffing, thereby authorizing new state spending and administrative capacity for the program.
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. Both committees that reviewed it passed SB1339 unanimously and with amendments, indicating support for the bill’s goals while also signaling a desire to refine its language or implementation. No committee transcripts are available, so there is no direct record of floor-level or public testimony sentiment, but the committee actions point to cautious approval rather than controversy at that stage.
The likely areas of contention are the bill’s cost, the scope of statewide slim-hole exploration, and the potential environmental and community impacts of drilling activities. Some stakeholders may support the scientific and planning benefits of identifying carbon sequestration and groundwater resources, while others may worry about land use, local disruption, and whether the program should advance without stronger site-specific review. The bill’s explicit requirements for environmental assessment and community meetings suggest these concerns were anticipated and are central to the measure’s design.