STAND. COM. REP. NO.  286

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 899

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 899 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTEGRATED STRATEGIES FOR STATEWIDE FOOD AND ENERGY CROP PRODUCTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii Center for Conservation Research and Training to develop integrated strategies for food and energy crop production in two phases:

     (1)  In Phase 1, research and development will be conducted to develop the best strategies consistent with comprehensive agricultural management practices to facilitate sustainable production of crops through long-term enhancement of soil quality using ecologically responsible means; and

     (2)  In Phase 2, federal and other funding will be identified and solicited to coordinate implementation and ecological monitoring of a pilot demonstration of the dual-purpose soil amendment/energy production facility developed in Phase 1.

     Hawaiian Mahogany Inc., Joule Junction, LLC, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  A concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 899 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair