Senate panels pass solar self‑certification for small systems, cap set at 250 kW and state indemnified

Senate committees on March 17 adopted amendments and recommended passage of House Bill 1984, a measure aimed at smoothing renewable energy permitting that includes a self‑certification path for smaller solar projects and a fix for a FEMA flood‑zone obstacle.

Rocky Moll of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association supported the measure and told the committee the bill fixes a FEMA flood‑zone issue that had blocked some rooftop solar projects. Moll urged a cap on self‑certification for larger systems and supported an amendment to exclude landscape architects from performing self‑attestation forms for certain installations: “There are a lot of homes in FEMA flood zones that … this was blocking their ability to get solar,” Moll said.

Andrew Hobby, speaking for the Public Utilities Commission, said the self‑certification process would not replace required safety or interconnection checks and that installations still must go through permitting and Hawaiian Electric’s interconnection review. “You still would need to go through permitting the normal way,” he said, adding the change would remove an extra layer of complexity for some applicants.

Committee leaders said they would make two substantive amendments: limit self‑certification to systems of 250 kilowatts or less and add language indemnifying the state so that, if the state blesses the expedited permitting route, liability for installation defects or damage would rest with installers and homeowners. The chair described the indemnity language as intended to remove state liability risks if the expedited process is used.

Energy & Intergovernmental Affairs adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HB1984 with those amendments. The roll call shows the chair and vice chair voting in favor, several senators voting aye and one senator excused. The Government Operations committee recorded the same recommendation and adopted the measure in committee. The measures will proceed with committee amendments attached.