STAND. COM. REP. NO.  597-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2504

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2504 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIGHTING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote good energy and environmental practices with respect to lighting.

 

     Specifically, this measure takes steps to:

 

     (1)  Phase out and ban the use of energy-inefficent lighting products with lead and high mercury content;

 

     (2)  Establish a statewide lighting efficiency standard for general purpose lights; and

 

     (3)  Direct the Department of Health to develop a statewide recycling program for recycling fluorescent bulbs containing mercury.

 

     The Department of Education; Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The National Electrical Manufacturers Association submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will advance Hawaii's energy self‑sufficiency goals by increasing the use of energy-efficient lighting and reducing our potential exposure to hazardous materials.  Establishing an efficiency standard for general purpose lights will help consumers make better energy purchasing decisions at reduced costs in the long run.

 

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Exempting high output and very high output linear fluorescent lamps greater than thirty‑two millimeters in diameter and preheat linear fluorescent lamps from the general purpose lights ban;

 

     (2)  Providing that, beginning January 1, 2014, the Department of Health shall determine, in consultation with companies that manufacture the lamps, whether high output and very high output linear fluorescent lamps greater than thirty‑two millimeters in diameter and preheat linear fluorescent lamps should be banned, as well;

 

     (3)  Accelerating the lighting efficiency standards implementation date from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2014; and

 

     (4)  Directing the Department of Health to develop a statewide recycling program for recycling all fluorescent lamps, including mercury‑containing compact fluorescent bulbs.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2504, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2504, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair