THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2563
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 196-6.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§196-6.5  Solar water heater system required for new single-family residential construction.  (a)  On or after January 1, 2010, no building permit shall be issued for a new single-family dwelling that does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standards established pursuant to section 269-44, unless the [energy resources] coordinator approves a variance.  A variance application shall only be accepted if submitted by an architect or mechanical engineer licensed under chapter 464, who attests that:

     (1)  Installation is impracticable due to poor solar resource;

     (2)  Installation is cost-prohibitive based upon a life cycle cost-benefit analysis that incorporates the average residential utility bill and the cost of the
new solar water heater system with a life cycle that does not exceed fifteen years;

     (3)  A renewable energy technology system, as defined in section 235-12.5, is substituted for use as the primary energy source for heating water; or

     (4)  A demand water heater device approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., is installed; provided that at least one other gas appliance is installed in the dwelling.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "demand water heater" means a gas-tankless instantaneous water heater that provides hot water only as it is needed.

     (b)  A request for a variance shall be submitted to the [energy resources] coordinator on an application prescribed by the [energy resources] coordinator and shall include a description of the location of the property and justification for the approval of a variance using the criteria established in subsection (a).  A variance shall be deemed approved if not denied within thirty working days after receipt of the variance application.  The [energy resources] coordinator shall publicize:

     (1)  All applications for a variance within seven days after receipt of the variance application; and

     (2)  The disposition of all applications for a variance within seven days of the determination of the variance application.

(c)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to impose and collect fees to cover the costs of administering the program under this section.  The fees shall be deposited into the energy security special fund established under section 201-12.8.

     [(c)] (d)  Nothing in this section shall preclude any county from establishing procedures and standards required to implement this section.

     [(d)] (e)  Nothing in this section shall preclude participation in any utility demand-side management program or public benefits [fund] fee program under part VII of chapter 269."

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§196-42[]]  State support for achieving alternate fuels standards.  The State shall facilitate the development of alternate fuels and support the attainment of a statewide alternate [fuel] fuels standard of ten per cent of highway fuel demand to be provided by alternate fuels by 2010, fifteen per cent by 2015, [and] twenty per cent by 2020[.], and thirty per cent by 2030.  For purposes of the alternate fuels standard, ethanol produced from cellulosic materials shall be considered the equivalent of [2.5] two and one-half gallons of noncellulosic ethanol.  "Alternate fuels" shall have the same meaning as contained in 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 490; provided that it shall also include liquid or gaseous fuels produced from renewable feedstocks such as organic wastes, or from water using electricity from renewable energy sources."

     SECTION 3.  Section 201-12.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is created within the state treasury an energy security special fund, which shall consist of:

     (1)  Moneys appropriated to the fund by the legislature;

     (2)  All interest attributable to investment of money deposited in the fund; and

     (3)  Moneys allotted to the fund from other sources[.], including under section 196-6.5."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

Report Title:

HCEI; Solar Water Heater Systems; Alternate Fuels Standards

Description:

Requires the Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to impose and collect fees for the administration of the solar water heater system for new residences program.  Sets the goal of using alternative fuels to meet 30 per cent of highway fuel demand by 2030.  Effective July 1, 2020.  (SB2563 HD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.