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 S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Board of Directors of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) develop recommendations to modify the make-up of the Board to include more private sector participation. The Board is also requested to consider adding the Governor's Special Advisor on Technology Development as a voting member, and allowing the Chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee to be designated as the representative for the President of the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chairman of the NELHA Board, Thomas Whittemore, and from NELHA's Executive Director, Jeff Smith.

Your Committee finds that the NELHA Board of Directors, at its March 20, 2001 meeting, voted to support this measure. Your Committee also finds that the Board supports increasing Big Island representation to aid in addressing localized diverse issues and challenges to ensure that community sensitivity and activities are integrated in Board decisions. The NELHA Board will include these recommendations in its report to the Legislature.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.