STAND. COM. REP. NO.  221

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 856

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 856 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a regulatory financing structure that authorizes the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide low-interest loans for green infrastructure property.  

The Office of the Governor; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Utilities Commission; Division of Consumer Advocacy; Blue Planet Foundation; Enterprise Honolulu; Hawaii PV Coalition; Division of Consumer Advocacy; The Pacific Resource Partnership; RevoluSun; Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter; Sunetric; and the Ulu Pono Initiative submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The State Procurement Office, Hawaii Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and the Hawaii Solar Energy Association submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to include in its annual report information on financing orders issued, adjustments made to the public benefits fee, and credits provided to electric utility customers pursuant to the issuance of green infrastructure bonds;

     (2)  Requiring an annual report to be submitted by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority on the activities and fiscal ramifications of the green infrastructure loan program and the issuance of green infrastructure bonds beginning with the regular session of 2015;

     (3)  Requiring a one-time report to be submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism on the activities and fiscal ramifications of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority's administration of the green infrastructure loan program and the issuance of green infrastructure bonds;

     (4)  Changing its effective date to January 28, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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 H.B. No. 856, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 856, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair