Report Title:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Description:
Establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction benchmarks to be achieved prior to January 1, 2020.
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
287 |
|
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to greenhouse gas emissions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that climate change poses a grave threat to Hawaii's economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment. Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels for transportation and energy production are the greatest contributors to global warming and climate change.
Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, took dramatic action to combat climate change by requiring the State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by January 1, 2020. Although this is a bold step, the legislature finds that it is not enough. The legislature finds that the timetable established by Act 234 should be punctuated with benchmarks for achieving greenhouse gas reductions.
The purpose of this Act is to establish earlier periodic benchmarks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the State to provide further incentive for reductions and speed the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
SECTION 2. Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, is amended by amending section 2 to read as follows:
"SECTION 2. Declaration of policy. By January 1, 2020, the State of Hawaii shall reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to levels at or below the best estimations and updates of the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions estimates for 1990. Prior to January 1, 2020, the State shall achieve the following benchmarks:
(1) At least fifty per cent of the target greenhouse gas emissions reduction amount shall be achieved by January 1, 2015; and
(2) At least seventy-five per cent of the target greenhouse gas emissions reduction amount shall be achieved by January 1, 2018."
SECTION 3. Section 342B-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§342B-71[]]
Statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, adoption. (a) A
statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be achieved by 2020 is hereby
established that is equal to or below the level of the statewide greenhouse gas
emissions in 1990, as determined by section 3 of Act 234, Session Laws of
Hawaii 2007; provided that for the purposes of this [Act] part, greenhouse
gas emissions from airplanes shall not be included.
(b) For the purposes of achieving the greenhouse gas emissions limit pursuant to subsection (a), the State shall achieve the following benchmarks prior to January 1, 2020:
(1) At least fifty per cent of the target greenhouse gas emissions reduction amount shall be achieved by January 1, 2015; and
(2) At least seventy-five per cent of the target greenhouse gas emissions reduction amount shall be achieved by January 1, 2018."
SECTION 4. Section 342B-72, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Before December 31, 2011, the director shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91:
(1) Establishing greenhouse gas emission limits
applicable to sources or categories of sources, to be achieved by January 1,
2020, and [establishing] benchmark dates specified in section
342B-71(b);
(2) Establishing emission reduction
measures to achieve the maximum practically and technically feasible and
cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in furtherance of
achieving the statewide greenhouse gas emissions [limit;] limits;
and
[(2)] (3) Requiring the reporting and
verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce
compliance with this part,
to become operative beginning on January 1, 2012."
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|