STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2019

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2235

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2235 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHOTOVOLTAIC READY NEW RESIDENTIAL HOMES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require that any new single-family residential construction incorporate design elements and minimum requisite equipment at the time of construction to facilitate the future installation of a photovoltaic system.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by one state agency and three organizations.  One organization supports the intent of the measure.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one county agency and two organizations.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     This measure is part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative's 2010 policy recommendations to help Hawaii meet the Initiative's goal of seventy per cent clean, renewable energy by 2030.

 

     Hawaii is ideal for photovoltaic systems, with the average rooftop receiving the equivalent of nineteen gallons of gasoline in the form of sunshine each day.  Less than one per cent of homes presently use photovoltaic systems to power their homes, but that percentage is growing rapidly as the systems become increasingly cost effective.  Your Committees find that the cost of including photovoltaic equipment and blueprints is minimal at the time of construction, ranging from $100 to $500 per home.  However, the cost of retrofitting a home ranges in the thousands of dollars.  This preparatory measure will assist homeowners by decreasing the cost of transitioning to a renewable energy future, and is a reasonable step to reducing future energy costs.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2235 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair