STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1613

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 239

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 239 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR TO FACILITATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF RENEWABLE-ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING WASTE-TO-ENERGY, IN HAWAII AND TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Governor to explore opportunities for foreign direct investments from the Republic of Korea for the deployment of proven renewable energy technologies such as waste-to-energy systems developed by Korean companies.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from HGE Hawaii LLC, Larta Institute-Asia Pacific, and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation.  The State also lacks new landfill space and is almost at capacity to absorb the waste produced by its 1,400,000 residents and the estimated 8,500,000 tourists who are projected to visit the State in 2013.  Your Committees further find that the Republic of Korea has demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable waste management in the adoption of waste-to-energy conversion technologies.  Your Committees also note that there is a tremendous opportunity for the State to capitalize on the close relationship between the United States and Republic of Korea by seeking to partner with Korean companies in the renewable energy and waste-to-energy fields.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 239, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair