STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1198

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 646

       H.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment; Economic Development and Taxation; and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 646, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote clean energy technology.

     Specifically, this measure makes an appropriation in the 2007-2008 fiscal year for a conference and festival on clean energy.  The conference and festival is being planned and carried out by the Blue Planet Festival and Conference (Blue Planet), a public-private partnership that promotes sustainability and clean energy through education, technology, and musical entertainment.  The appropriation is to be expended by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority; two members of Blue Planet Festival and Conference; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum and its Energy Efficiency Working Group; Hawaii 5-0 Technology Services, Inc.; two members of Juniroa Productions Inc.; McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP; Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance; and three individuals.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees note that the Blue Planet Festival and Conference is to be a four day event, consisting of two days of educational lectures and workshops on clean energy and a two-day music festival.  The conference and festival will be carried out using clean energy sources exclusively.  The event is scheduled to take place in October, a month in which there is typically a decline in tourism numbers.  Blue Planet anticipates bringing in approximately 15,000 attendees from outside of Hawaii, split equally between Japan and the mainland.

     Your Committees understand the role of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in this event to be one of oversight and support; expending the State-appropriated funds, and helping to facilitate cooperation with the event. 

     Your Committees note with some concern that Blue Planet is a new organization, having been organized in 2006, and its 501(c)(3) application is pending.  However, the conference planners have a great deal of experience and expertise in organizing events with world-renowned artists.  The music festival will bring world-class entertainers together with local musicians, the list of whom should be available in the next few months.

     Your Committees find that this measure pertains to an important event meriting further discussion.  Your Committees have requested from Blue Planet a detailed proposed budget, including salaries and other administrative costs, for review by the Committee on Ways and Means.  Your Committees note that the event has already received $50,000 under the Hawaii Tourism Authority's budget for marketing the event out-of-state.  Given the benefits to tourism, good will in promoting clean energy technology, and the fact that Blue Planet plans to make this conference and festival a self-sufficient annual event, your Committees suggest that the Committee on Ways and Means consider an appropriation in the amount of $500,000, to assist with the first of what is estimated to be a $10,000,000 event. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Economic Development and Taxation and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 646, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Economic Development and Taxation and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair	____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair
	____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair