STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3235

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 144

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Transportation and Energy, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 144 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ESTABLISH INCREMENTAL GOALS TO ACHIEVE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY FUELED GROUND TRANSPORTATION BY 2045,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a study to establish incremental goals to achieve one hundred percent renewable energy fueled ground transportation by 2045.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Blue Planet Foundation and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's dependency on imported oil and the increasing number of vehicles present in the State adversely impact the environment and economy.  Fossil fuels imported internationally cost Hawaii billions of dollars each year and contribute to the State's carbon footprint.  One hundred percent renewable fueled ground transportation by 2045 would put dollars back into the state economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping Hawaii to reach its sustainability goals.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii State Energy Office to consult with the Department of Transportation while conducting the study;

     (2)  Requesting that the study focus on researching the feasibility of eliminating imported fuel for ground transportation by 2045;

     (3)  Requesting that if the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii State Energy Office find it is not feasible to eliminate imported fuels for ground transportation by 2045 that the Department propose an alternative target year;

     (4)  Extending the submittal date for the report to the Legislature from Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018;

     (5)  Amending the title to reflect its amended purpose; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Transportation and Energy that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 144, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 144, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Transportation and Energy,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair