STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1443

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 899

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 899, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to finance a pilot project to develop ecologically-sustainable strategies to amend soil fertility for the production of clean energy feedstocks and food crops.

     Your Committee received comments supporting the measure from Joule Junction, LLC and an individual.  The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine provided comments.

     Your Committee finds that agricultural crop yields for use as food and clean energy feedstocks are strongly dependent on sufficient levels of available nutrients for plant uptake.  Thus, a major determinant to a successful and sustainable agricultural venture in Hawaii is an adequate and sustainable fertilizer regime.

     The use of biomass-derived charcoal as a tropical soil additive has been verified by modern science and used for agricultural purposes since ancient times.  The production of biomass-derived charcoal for soil nutrient enhancement may satisfy community electrical needs while at the same time reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.  This process has the potential to not only assist in reducing Hawaii's dependence on petroleum-based products, but also decrease the need for fertilizer used in crop production.  Comprehensive agricultural management strategies would not only lead to long-term economic stability of Hawaii's agrarian-based industries, but also reduce levels of contaminated sediments in statewide waterways and surrounding ocean waters, as well as reduce greenhouse gases and global warming.

     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 H.B. No. 899, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair