Report Title:

Alternate Energy; State Policy

 

Description:

Requires the department of business, economic development, and tourism, with the assistance of the department of accounting and general services, to develop state policy to convert the state motor pool to electric vehicles and power state buildings using alternate energy.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

19

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to alternate energy.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature finds that it is incumbent upon state government to exercise leadership in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy products. As the State's largest energy consumer, the state government should significantly improve its energy management to save taxpayer dollars and reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change.

Section 226-103(f), Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes the following priority guidelines for energy use and development:

(1) Encourage the development, demonstration, and commercialization of renewable energy sources.

(2) Initiate, maintain, and improve energy conservation programs aimed at reducing energy waste and increasing public awareness of the need to conserve energy.

(3) Provide incentives to encourage the use of energy conserving technology in residential, industrial, and other buildings.

(4) Encourage the development and use of energy conserving and cost-efficient transportation systems.

In particular, the legislature finds that the priority guidelines established in paragraphs (3) and (4), with respect to the encouragement of energy conservation in buildings and the use of energy conserving and cost-efficient transportation systems, should be followed by the State itself with respect to state buildings and the state motor pool.

With respect to state buildings, the legislature notes that while the energy conservation standards of the Hawaii model energy code are already required in state buildings pursuant to section 46-19.5(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, there is a need for additional alternate energy improvements in state buildings to encourage the use of renewable energy sources to power state buildings. Renewable energy sources may be used to either produce energy or increase the level of efficiency in the utilization of energy produced by fossil fuels to power state buildings.

The legislature further notes that Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, sought to expand the use of electric vehicles by undertaking a program of financial and regulatory incentives to promote the purchase or lease of those vehicles. The intent was to accelerate the use of a substantial number of vehicles in the State to attain significant air pollution reductions, improve energy efficiency in transportation, and reduce the State's dependence on imported oil and petroleum products. However, that Act did not seek to require changes to the state motor pool to achieve the same benefits from the use of electric vehicles.

The legislature finds that section 3 of Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, established a task force within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to "explore the most cost-effective means for supporting increased energy efficiency and sustainability...". The legislature finds that the mission of this task force should be amended to include the development of state policy with respect to increased energy efficiency in state buildings and the state motor pool.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to direct the department of business, economic development, and tourism, with the assistance of the department of accounting and general services, to develop state policy to convert the state motor pool to electric vehicles and to make alternate energy improvements to state buildings.

SECTION 2. Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, is amended by amending section 3 to read as follows:

"SECTION 3. (a) There is created a task force, within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, to explore the most cost-effective means for supporting increased energy efficiency and sustainability by:

(1) Examining alternatives to encourage the efficient use of energy;

(2) Considering the merits of active participation in the federal Million Solar Roofs Program, a partnership with businesses, communities, federal, state, and local governments, and utilities to install solar energy systems on one million roofs across the United States by the year 2010; [and]

(3) Making recommendations on the most cost-effective means for increased energy efficiency[.]; and

(4) With the assistance of the department of accounting and general services, develop a comprehensive state policy for converting the state motor pool to electric vehicles and making alternate energy improvements to state buildings. As used in this paragraph:

"Alternate energy improvement" has the same meaning as defined in section 246-34.7(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"Electric vehicle" includes "neighborhood electric vehicle" as defined in section 286-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(b) In selecting task force members, the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall ensure that there is representation from:

(1) The department of business, economic development, and tourism;

(2) The solar industry;

(3) The utilities industry; and

(4) The building industry.

(c) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than January 1, 2002.

(d) The task force shall cease to operate on January 1, 2002."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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