Hawaii Senate Bill SB665

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/25
• Refer: 1/23/25

Caption

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Summary

SB665 requires the Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) to commission a study on how different energy-use sectors can be decarbonized most quickly and cost-effectively through additional public investment in combustion-free renewable energy sources. The bill directs the study to compare sectors including electricity, transportation, and heating, and to evaluate residential, commercial, and industrial energy use, as well as ground transportation, interisland sea and air transportation, and international cargo shipping. The study must also consider conservation and efficiency measures and energy storage strategies that can provide firm energy. HSEO must submit a report of findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature at least 20 days before the 2026 regular session. The bill takes effect upon approval.

Impact

If enacted, SB665 would not directly change emissions limits or transportation rules, but it would add a new statutory mandate for the Hawaii State Energy Office to study clean-energy alternatives to combustible fuels and report policy recommendations to lawmakers. The bill would likely influence future energy, transportation, and climate legislation by identifying the most cost-effective sectors and investments for decarbonization, including potential changes affecting electricity generation, heating, ground transportation, interisland shipping, and aviation. It also reinforces the policy direction tied to Hawaii’s zero-emissions and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally supportive sentiment, with the bill framed as a response to the Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation settlement and Hawaii’s broader zero-emissions commitments. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or amendment debate. The bill’s purpose statement presents the measure as a planning and analysis step to guide future clean-energy investments rather than an immediate regulatory mandate.

Contention

The main policy tension reflected in the bill is its strong premise that combustion of carbon-based fuels cannot be part of a legitimate greenhouse gas reduction plan, which may be viewed as ambitious or restrictive by stakeholders tied to existing fuel-based systems. The bill also emphasizes that electrification only counts as zero-emission once the electric generation sector is combustion-free, a position that could raise questions about the pace and cost of grid decarbonization. Because the measure is a study bill, any contention is likely to center on the scope of the study, the prioritization of sectors, and the implications of its recommendations for transportation, shipping, and energy infrastructure.