Docket No. 2022-0250: Public Comment Tracker
This tracker includes public comments filed in Docket 2022-0250 since December 13, 2022. It does not include responses to Commission filings that request written input, such as the Draft Workplan, which will be addressed separately. Commission Staff provide an initial response to each comment, but please note that these responses are subject to change given the iterative and inherently flexible nature of the proceeding. All filings can be found at: https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/puc-case/a2G8z0000007ezIEAQ/pc20209?tabset-a3299=3.
The Commission is interested in testing new methods of soliciting stakeholder feedback and ensuring that the feedback is accurately captured in the official docket record in this proceeding. For that reason, Commission Staff has developed a “Public Comments Tracker” that will summarize all public comments provided to this docket and that will provide Commission staff’s initial response to such comments. Given the iterative and flexible nature of the proceeding, any initial response from Commission staff provided in the tracker is subject to change. Public comments can be submitted at any time at https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/consumers/public-comments, and may reference Docket No. 2022-0250.
| Date Received | Commenter(s) | Comment Description/Summary | Initial Commission Staff Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21/2022 | Marti Townsend, Earthjustice | Requesting consideration of an extended deadline to participate/intervene in the docket. Letter also filed 12/22/22. |
The Commission issued Order No. 38788 on 12/22/22, suspending the deadline for motions to intervene or participate in the docket. |
| 2/24/2023 | Energy Equity Hui Community Benefits Working Group via Layla Kilolu |
Letter filed providing research and recommendations on community benefit packages. Examples are provided from New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Hawaii. The letter recommends: 1. Improving community input to community benefits packages via focus groups/listening sessions; 2. Development of a rubric for assessing effectiveness of community outreach; 3. Exploration of new structures for community benefits packages. |
The Draft Workplan includes a workstream dedicated to discussing issues of siting and hosting energy infrastructure. The workstream can consider the recommendations included in this letter and work towards its recommended outcomes. |
| 3/6/2023 | Regina Gregory | Ideas; 1. Free electricity for host communities 2. Change the “revenue balancing” system 3. Use military land 4. Pass on savings from using free “fuels” of sun and wind 5. Make HECO a “B corporation” |
Commission staff notes that item 1 can be considered within the workstream dedicated to discussing issues of infrastructure siting and hosting, and items 2, 3, and 4 can be considered within the Utility Performance and Tracking workstream. |
| 3/8/2023 | Sara Steiner, Larry Wood | Letter requests additional reporting and monitoring regarding seismic monitoring for volcanic activity in relation to geothermal plants and particularly the Puna Geothermal Ventures (PGV) power plant. The letter also requests consideration of compensation for environmental impacts of the PGV plant. |
Commission staff notes that benefits for communities that host energy infrastructure will be considered within this docket, which could include consideration of the particular impacts of different types of power plants, such as geothermal units. The Utility Performance and Tracking category also aims to identify community-defined metrics to track and report publicly. |
| 3/9/2023 | John Borland | Letter provides information and a related news article detailing impacts of certain distributed energy resources and Federal programs on Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) household energy burdens. |
Commission staff notes that time-varying rates and access to distributed energy resource programs for LMI customers can be considered in the workstream related to Access to Clean Energy. |
| 3/14/2023 | Regina Gregory | Ideas; Smaller-scale solar, wind, hydro Do not allow HECO to recoup 100% of fossil fuel costs Change funding for EV charging stations, currently paid for by HECO ratepayers |
Commission staff notes that these items can be addressed within the workstreams related to Access to Clean Energy and Utility Performance and Tracking. |
| 3/15/2023 | Blue Planet Foundation and Sierra Club via Earthjustice | Letter recommends: 1. Addition of a workstream pathway on equitable siting of utility-scale energy projects; 2. More explicit consideration of past harm and injustice to Native Hawaiian communities and promotion of climate resiliency; 3. Adoption of “restorative justice” as a guiding tenet for the proceeding; 4. Release of a proposed workplan for comment by participants; 5. Convening of meetings in various locations and forums; 6. Inclusion of a clear meeting schedule and objectives within the workplan; 7. Development of robust procedures for gathering, recording, sharing, and responding to feedback; 8. Internal PUC capacity building on energy equity; and 9. Opportunity to convene and panel on community-centered energy equity issues and strategies. |
The Draft Workplan includes a workstream dedicated to discussing issues of infrastructure siting hosting. The workstream can consider the recommendations included in this letter and work towards its recommended outcomes. The Work Planworkplanially released in draft form for comment with a procedural notice to ensure participants are aware of the anticipated timeline. The Commission will continue to work to ensure sufficient notice and opportunity for input.Recommendations 2, 3, and 8 can be considered within the Procedural Equity workstream.Commission Staff appreciates recommendations 5 – 8 and is working on incorporating such practice into its workplan and ongoing efforts.Commission Staff appreciate the offer to convene a community panel and notes the subsequent letter filed in the docket on this topic. |
| 3/23/2023 | Doug Kroll | Letter recommends a pay-it-forward idea to help Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households to share the benefits of rooftop solar. |
The Commission has directed Hawaiian Electric to propose a program to allow customers with rooftop solar to share excess benefits with those in need. That can be considered in the workstream covering Access to Clean Energy. |
| 4/13/2023 | Diane Ware | Letter notes support for exploring energy equity and ratepayer involvement and notes the expanding industrial solar in Ocean View that supports energy consumption in wealthy areas without input from rural and low-income communities. |
The Draft Workplan includes a workstream dedicated to discussing issues of siting and hosting energy infrastructure, which could include Ocean View. |
| 6/5/2023 | Blue Planet Foundation and Sierra Club via Earthjustice |
Letter reiterates support for community-led panels and encourages the Commission to invite communities to provide such panels. |
This letter welcomes such panels and other engagement, and Commission Staff welcomes other ideas for soliciting such panels. |
| 7/3/2023 | Ryan Hurley, representing Kahuku Community Association | Letter noting long timeline for the Commission to respond to Kahuku Community Association’s motion to intervene, or alternatively participate, in the docket. |
The Commission issued Order No. 40112 on July 21st, 2023, responding to the motion. |
| 8/3/2023 | James Cohn | Letter noting the benefits of geothermal, learning from other jurisdictions, and the need for energy independence. |
The Commission staff notes that this is an investigatory docket, open to learning from other jurisdictions and that energy independence overlaps with discussions of energy equity. |
| 12/13/2023 | Life of the Land | LOL notes that in previous RFP dockets, only the utility and Consumer Advocate have been permitted intervention. LOL also notes that the scoring of bids is not publicly available and asserts that they are a “black box.” LOL points out that terms such as “co-design” lack clarity and the PUC has not ruled on HECO’s “renewable energy zone” concept. Procedurally, LOL claims that PPAs are not an ideal venue for addressing community concerns. | Commission staff note that part of the purpose of this docket is to determine better venues for addressing community concerns within the RFP process and intends to discuss appropriate venues for input as part of the series of meetings on RFP improvements. This topic will also be covered in discussions of procedural equity. |
| 12/26/2023 | Sara Steiner | This comment expresses community concerns about the safety of Puna Geothermal Ventures and opposition to expansion of drilling. | Commission staff note that approval of the PPA for PGV’s expansion is dependent PGV completing environmental review, Hawaiian Electric filing a copy of that completed environmental review with the Commission, and further Commission review of any material changes necessitated by the environmental review. More information on the environmental review process is available here: https://punageothermalproject.com/eis/ |
Updated 1/3/2024
Updated 1/2024