STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3197

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1508

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish within the Department of Transportation a building energy efficiency demonstration project to assist the State in determining best practices for designing state facilities with net zero emissions; and

(2) Require all state buildings built or renovated after July 1, 2020, to incorporate certain energy efficient standards.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of this measure and inserts language to create a revolving line of credit sub-fund of an unspecified amount under the umbrella of the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund for any state agency or department to finance cost-effective energy-efficiency measures.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Ulupono Initiative; O‘ahu County Committee on the Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that as a major consumer of electricity, the government sector has a large role in helping the State achieve its renewable energy goals. Furthermore, energy efficient facilities have the potential to significantly reduce energy costs for the State on a wide scale. Your Committee notes that there is already funding for energy efficiency measures for public schools through the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair