STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1704

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.C.R. No. 99

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 99, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON ENERGY SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to pursue strategies to ensure the availability of cost-effective energy sources in the State.

     Specifically, this measure requests the convening of a legislative task force on energy security to consider the feasibility of preventing the closure of the Tesoro Corporation oil refinery in Kapolei.

The Hawaii State AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers Union Local 12-591, and Aluvion Energies LLC testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that with the impending closure of the Tesoro Corporation refinery, Hawaii will be left with only one petroleum refinery that may not have the capacity to provide sufficient supplies of refined petroleum to meet Hawaii's needs.  This measure requests the convening of a task force to identify and consider various strategies and efforts to prevent the closing of the Tesoro Refinery and ensure a reliable and competitive energy market as Hawaii continues its transition to the use of new and alternative energy sources.  Your Committee believes that this measure would ensure that all alternatives relating to the closure of the refinery will be considered, with input from all stakeholders.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 99, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair