1.
(a)
The Secretary of Energy shall
assess the economic implications of the dependence of the State of Hawaii on
oil as the principal source of energy for the State, including—
(1)
the short- and long-term
prospects for crude oil supply disruption and price volatility and potential
impacts on the economy of Hawaii;
(2)
the economic relationship
between oil-fired generation of electricity from residual fuel and refined
petroleum products consumed for ground, marine, and air transportation;
(3)
the technical and economic
feasibility of increasing the contribution of renewable energy resources for
generation of electricity, on an island-by-island basis, including—
(A)
siting and facility
configuration;
(B)
environmental, operational,
and safety considerations;
(C)
the availability of
technology;
(D)
effects on the utility system
including reliability;
(E)
infrastructure and transport
requirements;
(F)
community support; and
(G)
other factors affecting the
economic impact of such an increase and any effect on the economic relationship
described in paragraph (2);
(4)
the technical and economic
feasibility of using liquefied natural gas to displace residual fuel oil for
electric generation, including neighbor island opportunities, and the effect of
the displacement on the economic relationship described in paragraph (2),
including—
(A)
the availability of
supply;
(B)
siting and facility
configuration for onshore and offshore liquefied natural gas receiving
terminals;
(C)
the factors described in
subparagraphs (B) through (F) of paragraph (3); and
(D)
other economic
factors;
(5)
the technical and economic
feasibility of using renewable energy sources (including hydrogen) for ground,
marine, and air transportation energy applications to displace the use of
refined petroleum products, on an island-by-island basis, and the economic
impact of the displacement on the relationship described in (2); and
(6)
an island-by-island approach
to—
(A)
the development of hydrogen
from renewable resources; and
(B)
the application of hydrogen
to the energy needs of Hawaii
(b)
The Secretary of Energy may
carry out the assessment under subsection (a) directly or, in whole or in part,
through 1 or more contracts with qualified public or private entities.
(c)
Not later than 300 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall prepare, in
consultation with agencies of the State of Hawaii and other stakeholders, as
appropriate, and submit to Congress, a report detailing the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations resulting from the assessment.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.