Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1281 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a preference for the state and county purchase of bio-based fuel oils.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Environmental Quality Control, the Department of Health, and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Pacific Biodiesel, Inc. also testified in support of the measure.

Your Committee finds that this bill will further the goals of reducing Hawai'i's reliance on imported petroleum, as well as diverting used cooking oils, fats, and greases, including grease trap waste, from landfills and sewage treatment plants.

Your Committee amended the language in this bill to (1) define bio-based oils, and (2) clarify that this was a preference, not a requirement.

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. 1281, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1281, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.