HB 1593 Summary

• Establishes the Clean Energy Savings Jump Start Program and Fund to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, focused on rapidly deploying funds for clean energy and energy efficiency investments serving low- and middle-income residents.

• Creates a three-year pilot Energy Storage System Rebate Program (January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020) offering rebates of 40 cents/watt-hour for residential systems, 20 cents/watt-hour for commercial systems, and 10 cents/watt-hour for utility-scale systems, with caps ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 depending on system type and income eligibility.

• Removes Public Utilities Commission approval requirements and oversight authority for the Green Infrastructure Loan Program, allowing the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to operate with reduced regulatory constraints and establish its own guidelines without chapter 91 rulemaking procedures.

• Repeals sections 269-170 and 269-171 of Hawaii Revised Statutes that previously required PUC approval for loan program implementation and disposition of green infrastructure special fund amounts.

• Appropriates funds from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Special Fund to the Clean Energy Savings Jump Start Fund and allocates amounts for the energy storage system rebate pilot program.