STAND. COM. REP. NO. 943-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2175

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2175, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to take a proactive role in reducing Hawaii's dependency on fossil fuel by:

(1) Providing a framework for energy self-sufficiency, and focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy resource deployment in:

(A) State facilities;

(B) Vehicles and equipment; and

(C) Public schools; and

(2) Providing support for energy self-sufficiency through:

(A) The renewable energy technologies income tax credit;

(B) Priority permitting for renewable energy projects at the county level; and

(C) A solar water heating pay as you save program.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Education, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiary utilities, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sun King, Powerlight Solar Electric Systems, Haleakala Solar, Inc., Conservation Council for Hawaii, and the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter supported this bill. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, and Inter-Island Solar Supply supported this bill in part. The Public Utilities Commission, Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Taxation, The Gas Company, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, and American Chemistry Council supported the intent of this bill. Life of the Land opposed this measure. The Consumer Advocate, American Forest and Paper Association, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2175, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2175, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair