Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 179 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Health (DOH) to develop an action plan to assess and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, DOH, Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and a concerned citizen testified in support of this concurrent resolution. Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light Company testified in opposition to this measure.

"Global warming", is a condition in which the temperature of the Earth begin to rises as a result of pollution. This poses a serious threat to Hawaii's environment and ultimately, its existence. The rise of sea levels, increased temperatures, more severe and frequent hurricanes, and prolonged droughts now being experienced around the globe can be attributed to "global warming".

Scientists have concluded that one of the main culprits for this phenomenon is carbon dioxide, a "greenhouse gas".

Your Committee understands that Hawaii emits approximately 20 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, with about 42 percent of this figure being emitted by power plants. Your Committee finds that Hawaii needs to shift its focus to finding cleaner energy sources and becoming less dependent upon fossil fuels. Although H.B. No. 2513 which proposed to regulate carbon dioxide emissions has stalled this session, your Committee feels that this measure is a positive step and will allow all concerned parties to continue the discussion of this important issue.

However, your Committee feels that clarification as to what is to be included in the action plan developed by DOH is necessary. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the action plan include:

Your Committee has also clarified that offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions by sequestration should be limited to land-based sequestration, as ocean-based sequestration has not yet been proven to be effective.

Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for purposes of clarity, conformity, and style.

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 H.C.R. No. 179, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 179, H.D. 1.