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City councils

Mayor Signs Three Bills to Address Climate Change on Oahu

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed three bills intended to address the impacts of climate change on Oahu, providing a strong foundation for the incoming administration to build upon. The bills aim to reduce carbon emissions, streamline the permitting process for renewable energy projects, and establish a framework for climate adaptation projects. These initiatives align with the city's resilience strategy, which was released in May 2019, and are expected to have significant economic benefits for Oahu residents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The three bills signed by Mayor Caldwell update the city's Land Use Ordinance, streamline the permitting process for residential solar projects, and establish a framework for climate adaptation projects.
  • The updated Land Use Ordinance reduces mandatory parking requirements for future development, offering more flexibility and making land available for other uses.
  • The permitting reform bill, Bill 58, is expected to lower overall costs for solar projects and reduce permitting delays, making clean energy more accessible to Oahu residents.
  • The climate adaptation bill, Bill 59, establishes a framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including energy and water use benchmarks for certain facilities.
  • The city aims to transition to a 100% renewable energy fleet by 2035 and achieve a carbon-neutral economy on Oahu by 2045.
  • The signed bills are part of a package intended to address the impacts of climate change on Oahu, aligning with the city's resilience strategy.

Statistics:

  • The permitting reform bill, Bill 58, is expected to lower overall costs for solar projects by 20%, reducing the amount of a system's installation cost that goes towards permit processing.
  • Historically, townhomes and condos have been plagued by permitting delays of up to 18 months, but the bill aims to reduce this timeframe.
  • The city expects to save up to $7 million in the next decade through energy and water use benchmarks.
  • President-Elect Biden plans to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and these bills ensure that Oahu is ready to partner on day one.

Sources:

  • The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, (c)2020, visit www.staradvertiser.com
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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