THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            183
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
    AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE USE OF HYDROGEN AS A
    FUEL FOR TRANSPORTATION AND POWER GENERATION.



 1        WHEREAS, Hawaii remains extremely dependent on fossil
 2   fuels, with oil supplying ninety per cent of our State's energy
 3   needs; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the State Planning Act, Chapter 226, Hawaii
 6   Revised Statutes, specifies the "dependable, efficient, and
 7   economical statewide energy... systems capable of supporting
 8   the needs of the people," and "increased energy self-
 9   sufficiency," as the State's objectives with regard to energy;
10   and
11   
12        WHEREAS, section 226-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, states
13   that it shall be the policy of the State to "support research
14   and development as well as promote the use of renewable energy
15   resources"; and
16   
17        WHEREAS, the Hawaii Energy Strategy 2000 specifies as part
18   of its objectives increasing the diversification of fuels and
19   the sources of supply of these fuels, and increasing the use of
20   indigenous renewable energy resources; and
21   
22        WHEREAS, the Hawaii Energy Strategy 2000 also specifies
23   the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and
24   supply as another objective as a result of incorporating the
25   Hawaii climate change action program; and 
26   
27        WHEREAS, the use of hydrogen as a fuel would significantly
28   reduce greenhouse emissions, utilize indigenous energy
29   resources, and diversify the State's supply of fuels and fuel
30   sources; and
31   
32        WHEREAS, hydrogen derived from the electrolysis of water
33   or photobioreactor technology using algae could potentially
34   provide sufficient quantities of hydrogen to supply a
35   significant portion of Hawaii's transportation and power
36   generation fuel needs far into the future; and
37   

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            183
                                                        
                                                        


 1        WHEREAS, the rising cost of oil and the potential
 2   environmental impact of its continued production and use
 3   warrants a thorough and comprehensive investigation of the
 4   potential of hydrogen utilization in the State of Hawaii; now,
 5   therefore,
 6   
 7        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 8   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
 9   Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business,
10   Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to study the
11   incorporation of hydrogen use in Hawaii's energy economy
12   including use as a fuel for transportation and power
13   generation; and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business,
16   Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to examine the
17   potential economic and environmental impact of hydrogen use in
18   Hawaii, assess the feasibility of incorporating existing and
19   new technologies for hydrogen use and hydrogen infrastructure
20   development in Hawaii, and analyze the costs and benefits of
21   incorporating large-scale hydrogen use into the State's energy
22   economy; and
23   
24        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business,
25   Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to develop a
26   preliminary feasibility assessment on the use on a large scale
27   of hydrogen as a fuel for transportation and power generation,
28   and an estimate of the cost of conducting a comprehensive
29   hydrogen study, and submit its report to the Legislature no
30   later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
31   Session of 2001; and
32   
33        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
34   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the
35   Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
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39                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________