Report Title:
PUC; Public Schools; Alternative Energy Utilities; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for grants for public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2166 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii sustainability task force constitutes a combined effort of all state departments and agencies in the development and maintenance of sustainable communities that will generate their own energy onsite by using alternative energy sources to fulfill a large percentage of their energy requirements and become less reliant on imported fossil fuels. The legislature further finds that the Hawaiian Electric Company has already successfully implemented a Sun Power for Schools Program for twenty-six public schools on Oahu. Under the program, a partnership between the utility, the department of education, and the community, the utility installs, operates, and maintains solar electric systems using photovoltaic technology and helps the department of education develop teaching materials on renewable energy of all kinds.
The legislature finds that the utilization of alternative energy utilities on public school campuses will eventually pay for itself and result in savings for the State, as well as promote independence from out-of-state sources for imported oil. The legislature believes that the provision of funding to schools that endeavor to use renewable energy utilities will be beneficial for the schools, the department of education, and the State as a whole, as well as serve as a learning tool for students in business, science, and math classes.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for grants for public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the public utilities commission special fund of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the provision of grants to individual public schools that use alternative energy utilities on their campuses.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act; provided that the development of criteria for and the awarding of grants under this Act shall be made in consultation with the department of education.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.