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COUNTY OF HAWAI'l COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 — 9:00 A.M.
Ulupono Initiative supports Bill 66 Draft 2, Relating to Installation of Photovoltaic
Systems.
Dear Chair Kimball and Members of the Council:
My name is Micah Munekata, and I am the Director of Government Affairs at Ulupono
Initiative. We are a Hawaii -focused impact investment firm that strives to improve the
quality of life throughout the islands by helping our communities become more resilient
and self-sufficient through locally produced food, renewable energy, clean transportation
choices, and better management of freshwater resources.
Ulupono supports Bill 66 Draft 2, which amends Chapter 5, Article 4, Section 5-4-3, of the
Hawaii County Code 1983. This bill requires electrical design drawings and specifications
to be prepared, designed, and stamped by a licensed State of Hawaii professional electrical
engineer for residential photovoltaic (PV) installations greater than 10 kilowatts.
The proposed exemption for PV installations under 10kW has the potential to support
Hawaii island's renewable energy adoption and directly support the state's goal to produce
100% renewable energy by 2045. This process has the potential to relieve some of the
existing regulatory hurdles and speed up adoption across communities. According to the
Hawaii Solar Energy Association, there are an estimated 1,512 annual residential projects
on Hawaii island, each of which would benefit from a policy such as this. Overall, we feel
this proposed language increases efficiencies in government processes and paves the way
forward for renewable energy adoption.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Respectfully,
Micah Munekata
Director of Government Affairs
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