STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1103

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1579

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the use of clean, renewable energy sources by authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to the High Technology Development Corporation for the development and construction of an electrolysis hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facility to be managed by the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, SanHI Government Strategies, Blue Planet, and Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committees find that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are powered by a fuel cell that converts hydrogen gas and oxygen into electricity.  These vehicles are zero emission vehicles and can help the State fulfill the goals of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative to reduce fossil fuel use in the State.  Your Committees find the electrolysis hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facility will strengthen Hawaii's commitment to increasing the production of clean energy.

 

     Your Committees note that H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, Regular Session of 2017, a measure relating to energy efficiency, establishes a demonstration project for building energy efficiency designs within the Department of Transportation and requires state buildings to incorporate certain energy efficient practices.  Your Committees conclude that language from H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, should be added to this measure to further support and advance the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative goals for the State.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Authorizing the High Technology Development Corporation to issue revenue bonds, rather than special facility revenue bonds;

 

     (2)  Inserting the contents of H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, which:

 

          (A)  Establishes a building energy efficiency demonstration project until June 30, 2020, within the Department of Transportation to create a facility or building with net zero emissions, and appropriate funds out of the general revenues of the State to conduct the project;

 

          (B)  Requires that all state buildings built or renovated on or after July 1, 2020, incorporate certain energy efficient practices; and

 

          (C)  Inserts an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Transportation and Energy that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Transportation and Energy,

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair