STAND. COM. REP. NO. 911

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1483

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1483, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR BETTER PLACE HAWAII, INC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of up to $45,000,000 in special purpose revenue bonds to assist Better Place Hawaii, Inc. (Better Place), in the planning, designing, constructing, and developing of transportation infrastructure, equipment, and apparatus to support electric vehicles in Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by two private organizations.  Comments on this measure were submitted by one state department.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that Better Place plans to develop an electric vehicle charging network on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, supporting approximately ten thousand electric vehicles in Hawaii by the year 2014.  Funds raised from the special purpose revenue bonds will be used by Better Place to install electric vehicle charging stations in homes, public and private parking lots, government facilities, and shopping malls throughout the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1483, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair