STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1083

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 1202

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 1202, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENERGY INITIATIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels by taking the initial steps necessary to develop an electric vehicle infrastructure by, among other things:

     (1)  Including the research and development of nonfossil fuel and energy efficient modes of transportation as one of the State's economic growth objectives;

     (2)  Requiring the designation of parking spaces for electric vehicles in public, private, and government parking lots; and

     (3)  Requiring state and county agencies to seek vehicles with reduced dependence on petroleum-based fuels, in accordance with a priority list, when purchasing new vehicles.

     The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Ltd., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., Enterprise Honolulu – Oahu Economic Development Board, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, and Sierra Club – Hawaii Chapter supported this bill.  Better Place Hawaii and the Blue Planet Foundation supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and Department of Transportation supported the intent of this bill.  The Public Utilities Commission provided comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying the designation requirement of parking spaces for electric vehicles and including a staggered percentage scale;

     (2)  Specifying an effective date for the reservation of parking spaces for electric vehicles and specifying the warning period for violators;

     (3)  Including a penatly of not less than $50 and not more than $100 for parking a non-electric vehicle in a stall reserved for electric vehicles;

     (4)  Clarifying the definition of "light-duty vehicle"; and

     (5)  Establishing the Transportation Energy Transformation Grant Fund Program (Grant Program) to:

          (A)  Provide grants to acquire electric vehicles and develop infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles; and

          (B)  Fund administrative and other costs associated with the Grant Program;

          and

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2009, provided that the Grant Program shall be repealed on June 30, 2013.

     Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments have been made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 1202, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1202, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Transportation and Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs.

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

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair