H.B. 2390 - Renewable Energy

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to explicitly consider lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when making determinations about the reasonableness of costs for electric and gas utility capital improvements and operations.

• Defines "lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment" as the evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions over a product or project's lifetime, including extraction, manufacturing, transportation, operations, decommissioning, and disposal stages.

• Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to waive the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment requirement for energy projects that do not involve combustion.

• Affirms that the commission shall consider the need to reduce Hawaii's reliance on fossil fuels through energy efficiency and renewable energy generation when exercising its authority.

• Changes references from "fossil fuel portfolio" to "portfolio of energy resources" and clarifies that the commission may determine renewable energy with higher short-term costs is reasonable given fossil fuel impacts.