HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law today a bill (HB3179 SD1 CD1) that will make it easier for biofuel producers to directly lease public lands. The measure is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration's efforts to increase Hawai'i's energy independence by encouraging the use of alternative renewable energy sources such as biofuels.

A law passed in 2002 authorized the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease public land to renewable energy producers through direct negotiation. The current law, however, does not take into consideration that biofuel production does not require its production facility to be located at the same location as the fuel source. Due to different requirements for industrial and agriculture zoned districts, it is often advantageous to have biofuel production facilities in a different location from where the crops and other organic materials are grown.

The new law, signed by the governor as Act 90, expands the definition of renewable energy producer to include growers and producers of organic materials used primarily for the production of biofuels. This allows the energy producer to enter into direct negotiations to lease public lands where they may grow their crops or raise livestock, then transport the materials to a biofuel conversion facility located in an industrial or commercial zone. The bill also clarifies that the byproducts from the organic materials may be used for other beneficial purposes such as mulch, feed or feedstock, and still qualify for the directly negotiated leases.

"This new law is another important part of our strategy to increase the use of renewable resources and create a more secure energy future for Hawai'i," Lingle said. "This measure provides another incentive to grow more of the fuel we use so we can continue to reduce Hawai'i's reliance on imported fossil fuels."