[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56450-56451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23414]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Hawaii Clean Energy Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of the Hawaii Clean Energy Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (Hawaii Clean Energy Final PEIS or Final PEIS) (DOE/EIS-
0459). The PEIS, which is not required under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), evaluates the potential environmental impacts 
associated with 31 energy efficiency activities and renewable energy 
technologies that could be implemented to assist the State of Hawaii in 
meeting the goals established under the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative 
(HCEI).

ADDRESSES: The Department encourages interested parties to access the 
Final PEIS electronically. It is posted at http://hawaiicleanenergypeis.com and http://energy.gov/nepa/eis-0459-hawaii-clean-energy-programmatic-environmental-impact-statement.
    CDs and printed copies are available for viewing at:

 Hawaii State Library, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 
96813
 Lanai Public and School Library, 555 Fraser Ave., Lanai City, 
HI 96763
 Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793

[[Page 56451]]

 Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala Malama, Kaunakakai, HI 96748
 Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720.
 Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, 
HI 96740.
 Lihue Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihue, HI 96766

    The Hawaii State Energy Office will provide a printed copy of the 
Summary or complete Final PEIS to individuals who cannot access the 
document online or from a CD. If a printed copy is required, send an 
email request to [email protected], or call 808-587-3807.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
Hawaii Clean Energy Final PEIS, contact Dr. Jane Summerson at 
[email protected] or the Hawaii State Energy Office at 
808-587-3807. For general information regarding the DOE NEPA process, 
contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20585; email to [email protected], call 202-586-
4600, or leave a message at 800-472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    DOE and Hawaii entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 
January 2008 that established a long-term partnership to transform the 
way in which energy efficiency and renewable energy resources are 
planned and used in the State. The MOU established working groups to 
address key sectors of the energy economy (e.g., electricity, end-use 
efficiency, transportation, and fuels), which led to the establishment 
of the HCEI. When it was established, HCEI set a goal of meeting 70 
percent of Hawaii's energy needs by 2030 through energy efficiency and 
renewable energy (collectively ``clean energy''). DOE has helped 
advance Hawaii's clean energy goals by providing technical research and 
analysis, staff involvement, and funding. In September 2014, DOE and 
the State of Hawaii signed another MOU to reaffirm their commitment to 
the HCEI.

Purpose and Need for Agency Action

    The purpose and need for DOE's action is based on the 2008 and 2014 
MOUs with the State of Hawaii that established the long-term HCEI 
partnership. Consistent with these MOUs, DOE's purpose and need is to 
support the State of Hawaii in its efforts to meet 70 percent of the 
State's energy needs by 2030 through clean energy.
    DOE's primary purpose in preparing this PEIS, which is not required 
under NEPA, is to provide information to the public, Federal and State 
agencies, and future energy developers on the potential environmental 
impacts of a wide range of energy efficiency activities and renewable 
energy technologies that could be used to support the HCEI. This 
environmental information could be used by decisionmakers, developers, 
and regulators in determining the best activities and technologies to 
meet future energy needs. The public could use this PEIS to better 
understand the types of potential impacts associated with the various 
technologies.

Proposed Action

    DOE's Proposed Action is to develop guidance that it can use in 
making decisions about future funding or other actions to support the 
State of Hawaii in achieving the HCEI's goal.
    For the Hawaii Clean Energy PEIS, DOE and the State of Hawaii 
identified 31 clean energy technologies and activities associated with 
potential future actions and grouped them into five clean energy 
categories:
     Energy efficiency,
     Distributed renewable energy technologies,
     Utility-scale renewable energy technologies,
     Alternative vehicle fuels and modes, and
     Electrical transmission and distribution.
    For each activity or technology, the PEIS identifies potential 
impacts to 17 environmental resource areas and potential best 
management practices that could be used to minimize or prevent those 
potential environmental impacts.
    On April 18, 2014, DOE published in the Federal Register its notice 
of availability for the Hawaii Clean Energy Draft PEIS (79 FR 21909). 
DOE's NOA invited the public to comment on the Draft PEIS during a 90-
day period that ended on July 17, 2014. DOE held public hearings in 
Lihue, Kailua-Kona, Hilo, Kahului, Kaunakakai, Lanai City, Honolulu, 
and Kaneohe from May 12 to May 22, 2014. Comments received during the 
public comment period were addressed in a ``Comment-Response 
Document,'' which is Chapter 9 of the Final PEIS. Comments received 
after the close of the comment period also were considered. DOE does 
not expect to issue a record of decision.

    Issued in Washington, DC, September 10, 2015.
Meghan M. Conklin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, National Electricity Delivery Division, 
Office of Electricity Delivery and Reliability, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-23414 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
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