STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1074

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1289

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1289, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the tax incentive created to promote the installation of renewable energy technology systems in Hawaii serves the intended goal of reducing Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuels.

 

     This measure attempts to accomplish this goal by requiring that the renewable energy technology systems tax credit may only be claimed for systems that are installed in Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance and the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.  The Department of Taxation submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that the original intent and purpose of the renewable energy technology systems tax credit was to protect Hawaii's environmental resources and to foster the State's independence from fossil fuels.

 

     Your Committee amended this measure by adopting the Department of Taxation's recommendation to include the amendments made in S.B. No. 1222, S.D. 3, for clarification and which accomplishes the same goal as this measure.

 

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive changes for the purposes of consistency and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1289, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1289, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Taxation.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

 

 

 

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair