Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2128 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend authorization to issue special purpose revenue bonds on behalf of Worldwide Energy Group.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from Kauai County Mayor's Office, Worldwide Energy Group, Gay & Robinson, Inc., and Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance.

Your Committee finds that Worldwide Energy Group is currently developing a project with the Gay & Robinson sugar plantation on Kauai to process sugarcane fiber to produce ethanol using a relatively new technology. Your Committee further finds that this type of technology might ultimately allow conversion from a sugar plantation to an energy plantation, bringing much needed investment to the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2128 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.