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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> President Rapozo stated that once all the proposals are considered by the <br /> councils all approved proposals will be voted on by the HSAC executive <br /> committee to finalize the package. He stated that he hoped to be ready to <br /> vote at the next executive committee meeting. President Rapozo stated <br /> that there will only be two more meetings to vote on the legislative <br /> package before December 1, 2008, when both he and Vice President <br /> Jacobson will be leaving office and no longer able to serve on the HSAC <br /> executive committee. <br /> <br /> V. NEW BUSINESS <br /> <br /> A. Correspondence dated. September 12, 2008, from Bob Jacobson <br /> transmitting two •(2) measures for consideration as part of the 2009 <br /> legislative priorities package, approved on September 10, 2008 by the <br /> Hawaii County council: <br /> <br /> 1. A Bill for an Act Relating to Product Branding and Labeling <br /> 2. A Bill for an Act Relating to the Public Utilities Commission <br /> Vice President Jacobson stated that the branding proposal was attempted <br /> previously by Hawaii County, however it was not accepted by all members <br /> of HSAC. He emphasized the importance of taking the issue to the state <br /> level and explained that the proposal would allow agricultural businesses <br /> to earn money in the state. The proposal would inform consumers of the <br /> origin of certain agricultural products through the packaging, thus placing <br /> a premium on items grown in the state of Hawaii and prohibiting deceptive <br /> branding of products by limiting the use of Hawaii or regions of Hawaii on <br /> labels to those items that are grown in the state. <br /> <br /> Vice President Jacobson explained that the second proposal from Hawaii <br /> County would increase the requirements of the renewable energy portfolio <br /> standard placed on each electric utility company. He stated that the <br /> Department of Energy consultant working with the State of Hawaii <br /> believed that the goals in the bill were achievable by the counties. Hawaii <br /> County will likely surpass the current requirements. <br /> <br /> Secretary Garcia asked if the bill was proposing new standards of if the <br /> state already has the same requirements for renewable energy. Vice <br /> President Jacobson stated that the standards set in the proposal would <br /> raise the standards set by the state similar to the goals set by the 2050 <br /> Sustainability Plan. <br /> Vice President Jacobson stated that the proposal would also decouple <br /> compensation rates paid for renewable energy sources to independent <br /> power producers from the avoided costs of non-renewable sources. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 5 <br />