STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1397

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 450

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the creation and development of hydrogen fueling stations in the State.

 

     More specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a hydrogen fueling station demonstration project in counties with a population of not less than one hundred seventy thousand residents;

 

(2)  Requires the department to submit annual reports to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2014 through 2018; and

 

(3)  Appropriates $3,500,000 for each year of the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the establishment of hydrogen fueling station demonstration projects.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from General Motors, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Your Committee finds that the mass production and arrival of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is anticipated as early as the year 2015 and that access to hydrogen fueling stations may discourage consumers in the State from purchasing these vehicles.  Your Committee finds that this measure commences the process of preparing and developing the necessary fueling stations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and supports the State's clean energy initiative.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Designating the High Technology Development Corporation as the agency responsible for establishing and operating the hydrogen fueling station demonstration project;

 

(2)  Requiring the High Technology Development Corporation to consult with existing projects to determine the design and implementation of the demonstration project;

 

(3)  Clarifying that the High Technology Development Corporation shall report annually on the status of the demonstration project; and

 

(4)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount to facilitate continuing discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 450, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair