STAND. COM. REP. NO.  308

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1628

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1628 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BIOENERGY HAWAII, LLC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of up to $100,000,000 in special purpose revenue bonds to assist BioEnergy Hawaii, LLC.

     Your Committee received favorable testimony on this measure from BioEnergy Hawaii, LLC, Pacific Waste, Inc., and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.  Your Committee also received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that BioEnergy Hawaii plans to develop a renewable, waste-to-energy cogeneration facility that would produce six to eight megawatts of electricity from waste that would otherwise end up in area landfills.  The benefits from the BioEenergy facility are numerous.  The facility would:

(1)  Minimize the release of greenhouse gases by recycling the facility's carbon dioxide emissions;

(2)  Reduce the demand for landfill;

(3)  Reduce transportation costs related to waste and disposal;

(4)  Create needed employment;

(5)  Reduce the State's dependence on imported fossil fuels; and

(6)  Supply enough electrical energy for six to eight thousand homes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1628 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair