HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0417.003 2020-2022 COMIA.
COUNTY ,
ON �'� AN
Hawaii Solar Energy Association
3
Serving Hawaii Since 1977
Testimony of The Hawaii Solar Energy Association before the County of Hawaii Council Committee on
i
Public Works and Mass Transit regarding the County of Hawaii's New Electronic Processing and
Information Center(EPIC)Online Permitting System
Tuesday,October 5,2021
I
3
Chair Keohokapu-Lee Loy,Vice Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and Committee Members, my name is Rocky
Mould and I am the Executive Director of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA). I am providing
testimony to express serious concerns regarding the County of Hawaii's roll-out of the new EPIC online
permitting platform,and the apparent stoppage of processing and review.
HSEA strongly supports a transition to online permitting, and we applaud the County moving to an j
online system. HSEA and its members have been actively engaged with local government agencies to j
assist in the adoption of such platforms.'Unfortunately,the recent complete shutdown of permit
processing is creating an emergency situation for local families and businesses. HSEA members report
that they may be forced to wind down operations and lay off employees in the County if work is unable
to restart very soon.As an interim solution,some HSEA members have pursued coordinating with the
Department of Public Works (DPW)to proceed at their own risk with State-licensed engineered plans,
when appropriate.Certain companies are currently in discussions with DPW about such a
temporary/emergency approach.
I
I
As our economy recovers from the deep economic slump caused the COVID-19 pandemic,and as we
approach the December 31,2021 deadline to qualify for state and federal tax credits,the timing of this
stoppage is very problematic and has the potential cause serious harm and hardship for local families
and businesses. If needed or asked, HSEA and its members are ready to work with the County to help
solve this issue and get business back up-and-running again.
With over 100 members, HSEA includes the majority of locally owned and operated renewable energy
companies in the State of Hawaii, employing thousands of local individuals in a diverse set of well-paying
jobs including installers, contractors, designers,electricians, engineers,financiers,salespeople,and
service technicians.
'See Ordinance 20-44(Bill 58), Revised Ordinances of Honolulu here:
https:l/hnldoc.ehawaii.govlhnldoclmeasure11514 and the SolarAPP+Campaign here:
https://www.solarappcampaign.org/#:`:text=The°I20SolarAPP%2 B°120Campaign%20aims`/`20to`/`20get%20100°fol
Ocities,the%20rooftop%20solar%20ma rket%20in%20the%2OU n ited%20States.
P.Q.Box 37070:Hoii lulu,Hawaii 968117
SOLAR HOTLINE (808)2132-5371 Comm. �411.'�
No.h
Ref. To: p
Ref. Date Q. T m 2o2_1
N
S.
Hawaii Solar Energy Association
.ergine Hawaii Since 1977
i
With its 100% renewable energy goal by 2045, Hawaii is a global leader in clean energy,and the local
rooftop solar and storage industry has been a major contributor to this success. In the County of Hawaii,
43.4%of all electricity sales'come from renewable sources with rooftop solar alone making up almost
half of that total at 44%.Z
i
Investments in rooftop solar and energy storage not only help Hawaii become cleaner, more sustainable
and resilient, but they also drive economic growth,create local jobs,and help reduce the high cost of
I
electricity for burdened families and businesses.3
I
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this matter.
a
Z See Hawaiian Electric's Key Performance Metrics for Renewable Energy here:
haps:llwww.hawaiianelectric.comJabout-usJkey-performance-metricslrenewable-ener�y
3 See Hawaiian Electric Company's Key Performance Indicators,which indicate an overall decline in the cost of
delivered energy from 2012 to 2020 here: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/about-us/key-performance
metrics rates-and-revenues.
P.O.Box 37070 rfonolulu,Ha,-waii 96837
SOLAR 110-FLINE (808)232-8371