STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1046

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1543

       H.D. 2

       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 Transportation and Energy and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1543, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY TRAINING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish energy systems and technology training courses for state and county employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects that contain renewable energy systems and related technology and to appropriate funds for the courses.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; State Fire Council; Honolulu Fire Department; Distributed Energy Resources Council of Hawaii; Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Inc.; and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that accomplishing the State's stated goal of transitioning to one hundred percent clean energy is vital to creating a sustainable future for the State.  As a means of accomplishing the State's clean energy goals, the State has created incentives for the adoption of new technology, energy systems, and equipment.  These incentives have led to increased installation of these products and related construction projects.  While these projects have been environmentally and economically beneficial for the State, the sheer number of projects has at times placed additional burdens on those government employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving projects.  Specifically, these employees, in order to properly perform their jobs, must remain constantly informed of new technologies in the energy sector.  However, these employees are not receiving adequate training, and they are, therefore, forced to conduct their own research or pay for their own training.  Moreover, the lack of necessary training can cause unnecessary delays in the approval or implementation of needed projects.  Therefore, it is necessary to establish energy systems and technology training courses for those government employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects that contain renewable energy systems and related technology and to provide funding for those courses.

 

     Further, your Committees acknowledge the utility of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's suggestion that the creation of a committee comprised of industry stakeholders and the proper training administration agency would help to maximize the benefits of the energy systems and technology training courses.

 

     Your Committees also understand the concerns raised by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism regarding the Department's inability to administer the training courses because of lack of proper funding, staffing, training, and knowledge in the area of educational development.

 

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the University of Hawaii community colleges to develop, design, prepare, and conduct energy systems and technology training courses for county employees at no cost;

 

     (2)  Establishing a committee comprised of industry stakeholders and county representatives to work with the University of Hawaii community colleges in developing the energy systems and technology training courses;

 

     (3)  Requiring the University of Hawaii community colleges to submit a report on its progress in developing the energy systems and technology training courses prior to the Regular Session of 2019;

 

     (4)  Limiting the training courses to county employees;

 

     (5)  Inserting an appropriation of $125,000 for energy systems and technology training courses; and

 

     (6)  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 Transportation and Energy and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1543, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1543, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

 

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

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair