SB504 SD2.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature acknowledges that developing renewable energy projects and investing in sustainable energy would benefit the State by decreasing its reliance on oil.

The legislature also finds that investments must be made, not only in developing sustainable energy in the private and government sectors, but by educating students and providing educational initiatives that foster sustainability.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa campus has provided leadership in sustainability and efficiency. The Sustainable Saunders project has played a valuable role in reducing energy use with the leadership of the faculty and students. By extrapolating their efforts at Saunders Hall campus-wide the University of Hawaii at Manoa could reduce its energy bill by a minimum of $2,000,000 over two years. Benefits could be experienced throughout the community through outreach training to other University of Hawaii campuses and other educational facilities.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa uses approximately 3.2 times the amount of energy per square foot as the University of California, Santa Barbara. If the University of Hawaii at Manoa could achieve similar energy efficiency, the campus could save over $1,000,000 per month. Trained energy audit teams comprising sustainability internship program interns could audit all buildings on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, aggregating savings campus-wide.

No cost and low cost energy efficient initiatives by the Sustainable Saunders project have reduced energy use at Saunders Hall by approximately thirty per cent, resulting in annual savings to the State of approximately $100,000. The application of recommendations by the Sustainable Saunders project for the Hamilton library, are expected to save the State more than $700,000 per year when implemented. The legislature finds that an expenditure of funds to establish a sustainability internship project is justified by the successful results obtained by the Sustainable Saunders project and the expected energy cost savings to the State in excess of the funds expended.

The legislature also finds that, in addition to lowering the campus energy bill, a sustainability internship program will train and provide paid work experience in sustainability practices and principles. This program would promote the retention of students by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, add credibility and financial viability to students' sustainability work, and generate supportive professional and academic networks for green careers in Hawaii.

As a traditional commuter school, many students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa support themselves with part-time jobs unrelated to their campus life or their academic and professional pursuits. A sustainability internship program would provide opportunities for students to work with like-minded individuals and remain engaged in campus life while meeting their professional and financial needs. It would produce an experienced, educated work force of the best and most dedicated students for the State's fastest-growing economic sectors. Future employers would have the opportunity to develop long-term, a skilled work force, jobs, and job opportunities. The University of Hawaii at Manoa would benefit by having the type of program that gains national recognition.

The legislature further finds that sustainability internship programs have proven successful at other university campuses such as at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. Similar programs have also proven to be financially self-sustaining after the first few years without requiring additional expenditures of state funds.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a sustainability internship program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa as part of the Sustainable Saunders project. The moneys will facilitate the employment of students each semester with the goal of applying no cost to low cost energy modification recommendations for application at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, other campuses, and the general community.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year of 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year of 2010-2011 to establish a sustainability internship program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act; provided that the University of Hawaii may fund the program through alternative means, such as cost savings realized as a result of the program or capital improvement projects that utilize energy efficiency initiatives; provided further that if alternative means of funding are used, any unexpended and unencumbered balance of the appropriation shall lapse into the general fund.

SECTION 4. The University of Hawaii at Manoa administration shall work with the Sustainable Saunders project to identify alternative methods of funding the sustainability internship program, such as through cost savings as a result of the energy efficiency initiatives, or other means.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010 on any additional system-wide savings generated as a result of energy efficiency initiatives developed through the Sustainable Saunders project, and recommendations for funding the sustainability internship program through means other than general fund appropriations.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	504
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII