HB 2188 Summary

• Establishes a setback requirement of one foot for every foot of height of a wind turbine from the nearest existing farm dwelling or off-site residential dwelling unit for wind energy facilities with capacity of one megawatt or more in agricultural districts.

• Requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine to conduct or contract for a study on noise effects of wind energy facilities (one megawatt or more capacity) on resident and student health, including noise measurements and health impact data collection.

• Mandates the study report be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

• Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to conduct the study (amount not specified in text).

• Takes effect on July 1, 2050.