STAND. COM. REP. NO. 176

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 618

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the lapsing date to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, in building seawater air conditioning projects on Oahu from June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2020.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Ulupono Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, and Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC.

     Your Committee finds that traditional air conditioning systems consume massive amounts of electricity.  Seawater air conditioning uses cool seawater, rather than electricity, to cool buildings.  Throughout the world, seawater air conditioning technology has replaced the energy-intensive central refrigeration system of a traditional air-conditioning system.  Implementation of this measure will improve energy and fresh water conservation, which is critical to the State's economy and sustainability.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 618 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair