SR163

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	163
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WITH COOPERATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO ASSIST IN THE STATE AND NATIONAL POLICIES TO REDUCE RELIANCE UPON FOSSIL FUELS AND TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ETHANOL INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

WHEREAS, the legislative history of the Ethanol Investment Tax Credit indicates the Legislature's commitment to the development of a Hawaii-based ethanol industry; and

WHEREAS, the House Committees for Energy and Environmental Protection and Agriculture reported that:

"A local ethanol industry can bolster the sugar industry, which is currently facing declining market prices. It could also stimulate the development of new crops, thereby providing new jobs and strengthening Hawaii's economy [and] this new industry will help to decrease Hawaii's heavy dependence on imported petroleum";

and

WHEREAS, section 486J-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, (HRS) requires "that gasoline sold in the State for use in motor vehicles contain ten per cent ethanol by volume"; and

WHEREAS, in her January 12th introduction of her Strategic Energy Plan the Governor said that "we will streamline the permitting process for renewable energy projects"; and

WHEREAS, the Governor has proposed a renewable fuels standard that requires twenty per cent of all motor fuel to be from a renewable source by 2020; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has mandated the use of renewable motor fuel; and

WHEREAS, the international, national, and interisland transport, loading, off-loading, storage, and distribution of ethanol feed stocks, products, and by-products are critical for the successful development of ethanol plants in the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the nature, size, and quantity of ethanol feed stocks, products, and by-products require maritime transport and utilization of state harbors for the berthing of ships for such products, and their loading, off-loading, storage, and distribution; and

WHEREAS, section 171-59(b), HRS, defines "maritime-related" to mean a purpose or activity that requires and is directly related to the loading, off-loading, storage, or distribution of goods and services of the maritime industry; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Department of Transportation (DOT), with the cooperation from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), is requested to assist in the implementation of these policies by:

(1) Supporting and facilitating the berthing of ships and barges for ethanol feed stocks, products, and by products, and DOT is further encouraged to support and facilitate the loading, off-loading, storage, and distribution of ethanol feed stocks, products, and by-products for ethanol plants developed or to be developed in the State of Hawaii; and

(2) Encouraging DOT and DLNR to permit such leasing, licensing, permitting, and easement grants of harbor properties as may be required for the loading, off-loading, storage, and distribution of ethanol feed stocks, products, and by-products for ethanol plants developed or to be developed in the State of Hawaii and to determine that such activity is maritime-related;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate deems it to be its legislative intent that the maritime transport, loading, off-loading, storage, and distribution of ethanol feed stocks, products, and by-products for ethanol plants developed or to be developed in the State of Hawaii is "maritime-related" in the context of section 171-59(b), HRS; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the intent of this Resolution is applicable to all state harbors, except Honolulu Harbor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Transportation, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the Deputy Director of Transportation, Harbors Division.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Ethanol; Harbors