STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2808
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2957
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2957, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to provide a comprehensive set of proposals to assist the State in achieving energy self-sufficiency.
Specifically, this measure:
(1) Increases the renewable energy technologies income tax credit for certain solar thermal and photovoltaic energy systems and removes the tax credits' 2008 sunset date, thereby making them permanent;
(2) Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for a photovoltaic pilot project in public schools statewide and to bring state facilities into compliance with the State's greenhouse gas and energy consumption reduction goals;
(3) Requires the incorporation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for state-funded buildings; and
(4) Establishes a Pay As You Save pilot project for the purchase of residential solar hot water heater systems.
Your Committee understands that the development and deployment of advanced hydrogen technologies and the use of biodiesel fuel will further assist the State in utilizing its renewable energy assets and attaining its energy self-sufficiency goals.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended the measure by:
(1) Establishing a biodiesel preference in Hawaii's procurement law;
(2) Establishing a Hawaii renewable hydrogen program and hydrogen investment capital special fund and providing appropriations therefor;
(3) Changing all proposed appropriations to unspecified amounts to facilitate further discussion;
(4) Making the proposed incorporation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards applicable to building construction and renovations initiated on or after July 1, 2006, rather than January 1, 2006; and
(5) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2957, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2957, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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