STAND. COM. REP. NO.  992-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2195

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2195, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Taxation and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit a joint, collaborative annual report on the cost and economic benefit to the State of claimed renewable energy tax credits.

Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; and Ulupono Initiative testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Taxation; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct an annual electronic survey to gather data regarding the economic benefit of renewable energy tax credits; and

     (2)  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 S.B. No. 2195, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2195, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair