Report Title:

Biofuels Production

Description:

Makes an appropriation for biofuels feedstock research.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1757
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION RESEARCH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is considerable interest in producing biofuels in Hawaii to meet alternative energy mandates.  Current law requires a ten per cent ethanol content for gasoline.  The demand for biofuel production in Hawaii is steadily increasing, which has been the catalyst for the creation of private entities to produce biofuels in this State.  However, there is a lack of feedstock in Hawaii to produce biofuels, which means that private entities must import feedstock.  Because of the State's remoteness, it is imperative for the State to be energy self-sufficient.  Feedstock is necessary to produce biofuels in order to attain energy self-sufficiency.

     The legislature finds that there are many crops that can grow in tropical environments that may be ideal feedstock for bioenergy production.  However, most of these crops have not been evaluated for achievable yields under typical growing conditions and practical management systems.  Biofuel production briefings indicate a need for thorough assessments of potential biofuel feedstocks, development of high-yielding feedstock, and pre-commercial scale testing of high-potential feedstocks to ascertain production costs and yields.  This type of information is needed to reduce the risk and increase the probability of success of commercial biofuel production in Hawai'i.

     The legislature finds that there is a potential for environmental and community impacts of large-scale production of biofuel feedstocks.  Impacts on land, water, air, labor force, schools, community demographics, and other environmental or community issues must also be assessed before moving ahead on these projects. 

     The University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources is engaged in several areas of biofuels production and processing, and has programs in natural resources and environmental management, family resources and extensive demographic information at the center on the family data center.  The University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources has the knowledge, expertise, and experience to assist the State to become energy self-sufficient through the use of biofuels.

     The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop and implement a long range plan to assess potential biofuel feedstocks, and their economic, environmental, and community impacts.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $450,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop and implement a long range plan to assess potential feedstocks, and their economic, environmental, and community impacts; provided that the college of tropical agriculture and human resource shall submit a report to the legislature on findings and recommendations, as follows:

     (1)  A preliminary report no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008; and

     (2)  A draft final report no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009; and

     (3)  A final report no later than October 1, 2009.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________