STAND. COM. REP. NO. 145
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: H.B. No. 1244
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1244 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN STATE FACILITIES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to reduce electricity use and costs for state agencies by requiring the use of seawater air-conditioning projects where feasible and available.
Specifically, the bill:
(1) Amends the definition of "renewable energy" to include seawater air-conditioning and thermal energy storage district cooling;
(2) Requires state facilities to use seawater air-conditioning thermal energy storage district cooling where feasible and available;
(3) Requires state agencies to include provisions for purchase of seawater air-conditioning thermal energy storage district cooling systems in requests for bids for construction or renovation.
Your Committee finds that seawater air-conditioning projects in state facilities would advance the State's energy policy goal of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, while also reducing the amount and cost of electricity necessary for cooling state buildings. A recent study determined that seawater air-conditioning is more cost effective for conventional air-conditioning and that the subsequent reduced energy use would also help to reduce the peak commercial load for electricity use.
Your Committee further finds, however, that state agencies should not be required by law to use one particular technology or renewable energy source, but should retain flexibility to choose the energy efficiency technology that best suits their needs at the lowest reasonable cost.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill to:
(1) Amend the definition of "renewable energy" to conform with other sections of state law;
(2) Delete references in the amended language in sections 1 and 3 of the bill to "thermal energy storage";
(3) Delete requirement that state agencies include provisions for purchase of seawater air-conditioning projects as part of their requests for bids for construction or renovation;
(4) Require state agencies to make reasonable efforts to achieve energy savings for air-conditioning by using efficient technologies and load shifting technologies, when use of seawater air-conditioning district cooling technology is neither feasible nor available; and
(5) Make technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1244, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1244, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
|
____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair |
||