STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1788-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.R. No. 151

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 151 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION, WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF OFFERING A SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEM TAX CREDIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Taxation, with the cooperation of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to conduct a study on the feasibility of offering a solar hot water heating system tax credit.

  Prior to holding a public hearing on this measure, a proposed H.R. No. 151 H.D. 1 (Proposed Draft) was prepared and made available for public review.  The Proposed Draft deletes the contents of the measure and inserts:

1) a new title:  REQUESTING AN UPDATE OF THE HAWAII ENERGY POLICY FORUM'S REPORT ON LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS OPTIONS FOR THE STATE;

2) language that requests an update of HEPF's report on Evaluating Liquefied Natual Gas Option for the State of Hawaii; and

3) language that requests that copies of the report  be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilites Commission. The administrator of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Chair of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, and the executive director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum submitted comments on this measure.

Your committee notes that, as expressed in the comments of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, no funding for this report update is provided for by this measure, but that the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum is currently seeking the required funds. If no funds are found, your committee recommends that this measure be held in its next committee.

Your committee took action by adopting the Proposed Draft.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 151, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 151, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DENNY COFFMAN, Chair