HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	72
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of requiring high-rise buildings to maintain backup electrical generation capacity in the event of power failures.

     WHEREAS, the recent earthquake and its aftershocks on October 15, 2006, caused major power failures on Oahu and throughout the State; and

     WHEREAS, the power failure for most of urban Honolulu lasted for a duration of up to twelve hours and longer in certain neighborhoods; and

     WHEREAS, Honolulu was very fortunate that the power failure did not cause any loss of life or major injury to residents and visitors; and

     WHEREAS, the power failure resulted in the loss of the use of elevators, causing major inconvenience to many residents and visitors occupying offices, hotel rooms, and dwelling units in high-rise buildings throughout the State; and

     WHEREAS, this loss of elevator service was especially difficult for elderly and infirm residents and visitors caught in high-rise buildings following the power failure; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study the feasibility of requiring high-rise buildings to be retrofitted to provide a source of backup power generation to operate elevators and other emergency systems in the event of a power failure; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to consult with:

     (1)  Hawaiian Electric Company;

     (2)  Structural and electrical engineers;

     (3)  High-rise building owners and management operators;

     (4)  The various county departments or agencies responsible for the issuance of building permits;

     (5)  The various county fire departments; and

     (6)  Suppliers of large commercial and industrial electrical generating equipment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit the study to the Legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Executive Officer of the Hawaiian Electric Company, the Mayor of each county, who in turn is required to transmit copies to the head of the county department or agency that is responsible for the issuance of building permits, and to the Chief of the Fire Department of each county.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Alternate Power Generation