ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ

The regulates everything from telecommunications to taxis to water, but Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s pick to head the agency is clearly a nod to the clean energy community.

Rep. Hermina Morita, a Kauai Democrat who spent the last 14 years in the Hawaii House of Representatives, was appointed Thursday afternoon as the next PUC chair.

As the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, Morita’s been front-and-center on major energy initiatives, including the solar mandate and the barrel tax increase. In both cases, she had to balance energy ideology with financial and political realities.

“She has an outstanding record with credibility with other members of the Legislature — an advantage as PUC chair,” Abercrombie said at a press conference announcing Morita as his choice. “No matter the rivalries on an issue, inevitably people were happy when she was in charge of a committee or headed up a discussion on a bill because they knew they would be treater fairly and respectively and they could count on her word.”

Hawaiian Electric Company is obviously the big game in town, but because Morita hails from Kauai’s North Shore — where this reporter was lucky enough to live for a spell — she’s also intimately familiar with the smaller of the state’s two electric utilities, .

Those Kauai ties also provide a unique perspective. Abercrombie said Morita has already spoken to legislators about — introduced by Maui Sen. Roz Baker — to expand PUC from just three members to include neighbor island representation.

“It’s a good idea,” Abercrombie said of the proposal. “We have to deal with a modern set of circumstances. Expansion of membership would give it much more flexibility in policy and implementation.”

It’s unclear what Morita’s appointment means for Abercrombie’s campaign proposal to create an independent energy authority separate from the rate-making responsibilities of the PUC. He said the plan would help fast-track much-needed clean energy projects. Energy was not a main focus of Abercrombie’s State of the State address, and his didn’t include an energy authority measure.

Even if the PUC maintains control of approving clean energy projects, Morita said that she welcomes the challenge.

“I see the PUC as an economic driver for the state and its decisions touch every resident in the state of Hawaii,” she said at her introductory press conference.

Morita’s has touched on clean energy issues, and her appointment drew quick praise from one prominent energy advocate.

“Mina has been the resident expert on energy at the State Capitol for the past dozen years,” said Jeff Mikulina, executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation, in a press release. “Unlike many legislators who rely on staff or outside consultants for information, Mina is the rare lawmaker who immerses herself in the subject matter and comprehends every angle of it. Mina is the expert.”

If confirmed by the Hawaii Senate, she’ll finish the term of Carlito Caliboso, who served as chair since Gov. Linda Lingle appointed him in 2003. Morita, whose term will end June 30, 2014, credited Caliboso with bringing the PUC “into the 21st century.”

Morita’s appointment creates a vacancy in the Legislature. Speaker Calvin Say said her departure will be a “great loss” for the House.

“Rep. Hermina Morita has been an excellent representative for her Kauai district and for the state of Hawaii. She has become one of the state’s experts on energy and the environment, and while her departure will be a great loss for the House, the state will gain a competent and well-respected chair of the Public Utilities Commission,” Say said in a .

“Her accomplishments at and contributions to the legislature were stellar, and on behalf of the House of Representatives, we wish Rep. Morita every success as she embarks upon a new challenge.”

The District 14 seat will be the second position filled by a governor in quick succession. When former Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser resigned to run for lieutenant governor last year, Lingle appointed Ron Kouchi to finish the term.

Kouchi was re-elected in November.

Read the from Abercrombie’s office.

— Chad Blair contributed to this report from the Capitol.