Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Health and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 113 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the convening of an emissions task force to measure the State's power plant and motor vehicle emissions and develop comprehensive strategies to reduce emissions.

The Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, and Life of the Land submitted testimony supporting this measure. The Department of Health and the Public Utilities Commission submitted testimony supporting the intent of this measure. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committees find that much of the emissions information requested in this measure, such as the exact emissions from the ground transportation sector, is not available. It would be very useful, especially with regard to vehicle emissions, to have this data to make wise policy choices to regulate the most serious of the pollutants, carbon dioxide. A task force would be an appropriate means to examine how other areas have begun to deal with regulating and controlling emissions.

Further, your Committees find that this measure, is an opportunity to bring together the industry players to put forth facts and is consistent with what the automobile and power plant industries have recommended at previous Senate Energy and Environment Committee hearings on related issues this legislative session.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Health and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 113, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 113, S.D. 1.