THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	82
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN HAWAII.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has approximately 1,130,000 cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and motorcycles that are registered in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii drivers annually consume about 400,000,000 gallons of gasoline to power their vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's ground transportation sector is highly reliant on fossil fuels, and consumes about seventy-one per cent of the State's overall transportation fuel use; and

     WHEREAS, the adoption of electric vehicles is an integral component towards achieving the State's transportation energy efficiency goals, and reducing its reliance on fossil-fuels; and

     WHEREAS, developing an electric vehicle infrastructure is a first and essential step towards the electrification of transportation in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the electrification of transportation will create jobs, foster economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help stem the effects of climate change in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, with developing technology, and a movement by national and international automakers to expedite the production and supply of electric vehicles, Hawaii must be ready to embrace a new generation of ground transportation; and

     WHEREAS, to create and expedite the transformation from a fossil fuel-based transportation system to a more energy efficient electricity-based system, key stakeholders in the community must provide strong leadership to make this vision a reality; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that this body believes Hawaii must aggressively promote and develop alternatives to fossil-fuel modes of transportation, particularly the use of electric vehicles as a viable solution; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes that developing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure is an important first step in the transformation of transportation in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges all relevant stakeholders, including automobile dealers, rental car and commercial fleet operators, State and local government agencies, electric vehicle manufacturers, and infrastructure development specialists to collaborate on ways to expedite the adoption of electric vehicles in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Hawaii's congressional delegation; the Governor; Department of Transportation; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; United States Department of Transportation; United States Department of Energy; Mayor of each county; Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association; and Hawaii Transportation Association.

Report Title: 

Electrification of Energy Efficient Transportation Systems