STAND. COM. REP. NO. 278-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1893
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1893 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to highlight the importance of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this State.  This bill
amends the State's energy facility system planning objectives by
including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as one of the
State's energy objectives.  This bill also adds two new State
policies on this same issue.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism, the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and three
individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaiian
Electric Company and its subsidiary utilities, Maui Electric
Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, opposed passage of
this measure.  The University of Hawaii's Environmental Center
offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that the policy to support actions that
          reduce greenhouse gases are from utility,
          transportation, and industrial sector applications
          rather than from combustion sources;


 
 
 
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     (2)  Clarifying that it is a policy to support actions that
          reduce Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through
          agriculture and forestry initiatives rather than
          through agriculture and forestry.  These initiatives
          may include strategies such as tree planting in urban
          areas where they:

          (A)  Can shade buildings and reduce the need for air
               conditioning; and

          (B)  Are less likely to be cut down;

          and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
          purpose of clarity.


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1893, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1893, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair