HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0646.007 2018-2020 C044,
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December 13, 2019
Chairperson Susan Lee Loy ,
Public Works & Mass Transit Committee _k
c/o Office of the County Clerk
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: SUPPORT for Bill 126, IECC Amendments to Chapter 5, Building Code ex�
Aloha Chairperson Lee Loy and Members of Committee on Public Works & Mass Transit:
On behalf of Hawaii Gas, Mahalo to the County of Hawaii Public Works and Mass Transit
Committee for inviting comments on the draft ordinance changes to the Hawaii County Energy
Code. Hawaii Gas supports Bill 126.
My name is Debra Ota, General Manager of Hawaii Gas for Hawaii County. I have worked for
Hawaii Gas for more than 5 years and in the Hawaii energy industry for 20 years. Our company
provides clean, reliable and affordable energy to nearly 70,000 residential and commercial
customers statewide, with nearly 12,500 customers in Hawaii County. Our history and ties to the
community are strong as Hawaii Gas has been serving the islands for 115 years. As Hawaii
collectively works to become 100% carbon neutral by 2045, Hawaii Gas is doing its part to
reduce the effects of climate change in our state and on the planet, by producing clean and
renewable energy. Our portfolio includes a 6.5 MW solar farm and the state's first renewable
natural gas (RNG)plant, which turns sewage into energy.
Hawaii gas supports the provision in the draft ordinance changes on page 29 (34) to add a new
subsection R403.5.5 that aligns with the state's solar water heating (SWH) requirement for new
single-family residential construction. Since the state's solar water heating law became effective
in 2010, these systems have been mandated for all newly constructed single-family homes in the
state and are the de facto requirement"for new home construction. The state SWH law also
allows for the application of a variance in lieu of a solar water heating system for very specific
situations: cost-prohibitive based upon a life cycle cost-benefit analysis; poor solar resource;
renewable energy technology system; or option for an on-demand gas water heater with one
additional gas appliance.
Especially important for Hawaii County to be aware, from 2010 to 2018, nearly two-thirds of the
variances granted in the state were for homes in Hawaii County. More specifically, almost half
of the variances granted statewide were concentrated in the Hilo and Puna Districts for homes
opting for an on-demand gas water heater likely due to the lower life-cycle cost of gas or poor
solar resource. 104(1.1
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Ref. Date DEC 1 7 20190
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P.O.Box 3000 1 Honolulu,Hawaii 96802-3000 1 www.HawaiiGas.com
Hawaii is home for all of us. Together we are committed to protecting our land and our
communities for future generations. But we must also consider that because Hawaii is unlike
anywhere else in the world, we have significant costs and challenges with ensuring our energy is
reliable. We are challenged with rugged topography and weather that is sometimes unsuitable
for solar. We also have some very rural communities with significant infrastructure needs.
As a state, we have the highest electricity costs compared to anywhere in the country, as well as
some of the very highest housing and construction costs. For these reasons, we need to keep
diversified energy choices that work for our residents and families. The reality is decision
makers must carefully balance the rising costs of living in Hawaii with reaching our energy goals
which starts with promoting responsible changes to the county's building code. Hawaii Gas
believes these proposed changes in Hawaii County do just that. We need balanced energy
solutions that can work for everyone that addresses climate change, costs and reliability.
Finally, Hawaii residents are also seeing more frequent threats from hurricanes, tropical storms,
other severe weather and lava flows that sometimes require the evacuation of homes and creation
of temporary shelters—thus, reliability is a key factor. Having access to propane appliances for
heating water and for cooking are critical not just for daily living, but also in times of disaster
when cooking and water for sanitation are even more critical for displaced residents. Hawaii Gas
is often called on to help supply propane and sometimes other equipment to help people that are
displaced get a hot shower or a warm meal to get back on their feet again.
In closing, allowing our residents to have a choice in water heating options that are right for them
in terms of affordability, dependability and resiliency is important, as we work together towards
the state's carbon neutrality goals.
Thank you for the opportunity to share comments.
Sincerely,
km,t RX
Debra Ota
Hawaii Gas— General Manager, Hawaii County
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P.O.Box 3000 1 Honolulu,Hawaii 96802-3000 1 www.HawaiiGas.com