THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Senator Ron Menor, Chair

Senator Gary L. Hooser, Vice Chair

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Norman Sakamoto, Chair

Senator Jill N. Tokuda, Vice Chair

COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND, AGRICULTURE, AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Senator Russell S. Kokubun, Chair

Senator Jill N. Tokuda, Vice Chair

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:	Thursday, March 15, 2007
TIME:	2:45 p.m.
PLACE:	Conference Room 414 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

ENE/EDU

HB 1003 HD3 (HSCR1045)

RELATING TO ENERGY. Statutorily establishes the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawaii and creates the Energy Systems Development Special Fund for the development of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.  Creates the Biofuels Development Revolving Loan Fund, which will be administered by the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Biofuels Program within DBEDT, to manage the State's transition to energy self-sufficiency based in part on biofuels for power generation and transportation fuels.  Requires DBEDT to develop and prepare a bioenergy master plan that sets the course for the coordination and implementation of policies and procedures to develop a bioenergy industry in Hawaii.  Appropriates funds.  (HB1003 HD3)

ENE/EDU, EDT, WAM

ENE/WAH

HB 899 HD1 (HSCR1121)

RELATING TO INTEGRATED STRATEGIES FOR STATEWIDE FOOD AND ENERGY CROP PRODUCTION. Appropriates funds for the Center for Conservation Research and Training at UH to develop best practices consistent with comprehensive agricultural management strategies to facilitate sustainable production of crops through long-term enhancement of soil quality using ecologically responsible means.  Implements a pilot project demonstrating integrated strategies to enhance soil fertility for the production of clean energy feedstocks (agricultural crops used as the raw materials for biofuels or  biomass-to-electricity production) and food crops.  Establishes mechanisms by which stakeholders can work collaboratively in the development of best practices and to educate the public about sustainable agriculture issues faced by the state.  (HB899 HD1)

ENE/WAH, WAM

ENE Only

HB 1289 HD2 (HSCR1046)	RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY. Requires that a renewable energy technology system be installed and operated in the state to qualify for the Renewable Energy Technology Tax Credit.  Removes the requirement that the individual or corporate taxpayer applying for the tax credit be a resident of the state.  (HB1289 HD2)	ENE, EDT, WAM
HB 840 HD1 (HSCR962)	RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES. Expands the renewable energy technologies tax credit to include fuel cell systems.  (HB840 HD1)	ENE, EDT, WAM
HB 506 HD1 (HSCR1041)	RELATING TO ETHANOL. Extends the tax credit for qualified ethanol production facilities for 5 years from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2017.  (HB506 HD1)	ENE, EDT, WAM
HB 334 HD1 (HSCR867)	RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST SOPOGY INC., IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds not exceeding $10,000,000 to assist Sopogy, Inc. with planning, designing, construction, equipping, and operating a solar farm power plant at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii or other suitable site to produce electricity from solar power.  (HB334 HD1)	ENE, WAM
HB 870 HD1 (HSCR1043)	RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING PROJECTS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. Authorizes issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC for the purpose of design and construction of a seawater air conditioning district cooling system in downtown Honolulu. (HB870 HD1)	ENE, WAM
HB 871 HD1 (HSCR1044)	RELATING TO SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING DISTRICT COOLING SYSTEMS. Allows the sale of cooling from seawater air conditioning district cooling systems to qualify for state enterprise zone benefits.  (HB871 HD1)	ENE, EDT, WAM
HB 226 HD2 (HSCR1184)	RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Requires the Department of Health to adopt reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance.  Requires adoption of a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions levels in 1990 to be achieved by 2020.  Requires the adoption of rules to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions.  Authorizes the adoption of market-based compliance mechanisms.  (HB226 HD2)	ENE, WAM
HB 639 HD2 (HSCR1050)	RELATING TO SOLID WASTE. Requires distributors to report container numbers sold and make fee payments on that basis.  Permits calculation of redemption value by container count in certain instances.  Allows refusal of refund for previously processed and baled containers.  Permits the director of health to suspend an automatic increase of the deposit beverage container fee.  (HB639 HD2)	ENE, WAM
HB 791 HD1 (HSCR995)	RELATING TO GASOLINE. Requires gasoline sold in the state to have ethanol content of at least ten per cent, up to ten percent, and no ethanol, depending on the grade of gasoline.  (HB791 HD1	ENE, CPH

Decision Making to follow, if time permits.

Persons wishing to testify should submit testimony in one of the following ways at least 24 hours prior to the hearing:

· In person:  30 copies of their testimony on the ENE/EDU and ENE/WAH bills or 20 copies of their testimony on the ENE-only bills to the committee clerk, Room 208, State Capitol.

· By fax:  Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  When faxing, please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal.

· By Email:  Testimony may be emailed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Legislature's Public Access Room at testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov.  Please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the number of copies needed for submittal.  In addition, please provide the testifier's name and mailing address in the email.  Email sent to individual offices or any other Senate office will not be accepted.

At the top of your testimony, please include your name, position/title, organization, contact information, the hearing date, bill number, bill title and your position on the measure (support, oppose, comments, amendments). Please submit separate testimony for each bill on which you are testifying.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made.

Public Folder.  A folder labeled “Public Folder” containing the measures and testimonies for the hearing will be available for shared use by members of the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6740.

________________________________________ Senator Norman Sakamoto Chair	________________________________________ Senator Ron Menor Chair
	________________________________________ Senator  Russell S. Kokubun Chair