STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2983

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2701
                                        H.D. 3
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Technology and Labor and
Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2701, H.D. 3,
entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a renewable
energy demonstration project in the Department of Education for
one public school in each school district.

     This project will involve the installation of photovoltaic
systems and energy storage devices in one public school in each
school district.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Education and Department of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism.  Testimony in opposition to the measure
was received from Kauai Electric.  The Department of Accounting
and General Services provided comments on the measure.

     Your Committees find that the feasibility and cost
effectiveness of installing photovoltaic systems (solar panels)
and energy storage devices in public schools needs to be
explored, not only as an energy alternative but also to determine
a school's potential to be insulated from power outages and to
act as an emergency shelter during natural disasters.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2983
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     Your Committees have made technical, nonsubstantive
amendments to the measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Education and Technology and Labor and Environment
that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord
with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2701, H.D. 3, as amended
herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form
attached hereto as H.B. No. 2701, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Education and
                                   Technology and Labor and
                                   Environment,



____________________________       ______________________________
BOB NAKATA, Chair                  DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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