Advisory council for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute

(a) The institute shall establish an advisory council of seven members, appointed by the president from a list of nominees submitted by the director of the institute and the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office of the department of business, economic development, and tourism. The members of the advisory council shall be from the general public, the energy industry, technology providers, state agencies whose primary functions relate to energy planning and policy analyses, and environmental groups, or other relevant stakeholder representatives as recommended by the director of the institute and the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office. Members shall be selected on the basis of their proven expertise and interest in the field of renewable energy. The director of the institute and the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office shall serve as ex officio[,] nonvoting members of the advisory council. (b) The primary role of the advisory council shall be to make recommendations to the director on the award of contracts and grants funded through the institute. (c) The advisory council may advise the director on matters of strategic planning, goals and objectives, significant initiatives of the institute, and other matters as determined by the director.