HB1934

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that climate change is occurring as a result of human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and the concomitant release of carbon dioxide. Continued burning of fossil fuels can cause irreparable harm to the State and the planet. Thirty-four per cent of Hawaii's coastlines are vulnerable to intensifying coastal hazards resulting from accelerating sea level rise, according to a study performed by researchers at the University of Hawaii.

The legislature further finds that according to a report produced by the Hawai‘i climate change mitigation and adaptation commission, global sea levels could rise more than three feet by 2100, with more recent projections showing this occurring as early as 2060. The report also found that over the next thirty to seventy years, approximately 6,500 structures, thirty-eight miles of coastal roads, five hundred fifty cultural sites, and 19,800 people statewide will be exposed to chronic flooding, resulting in an estimated $1,900,000,000 in economic loss.

The legislature additionally finds that in response to the growing threat of climate change, the State has set standards and launched initiatives to expand sustainable and efficient energy reliance, including setting a statewide benchmark of generating one hundred per cent of the State's electricity through renewable resources by 2045. Meeting these initiatives will require increased employment in clean and renewable energy industries as part of a green new deal for Hawaii's workforce.

The purpose of this Act is to create jobs that advance the State's goals of achieving greater energy security and adapting to climate change.

SECTION 2. Section 196-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, a Hawaii clean energy initiative program to manage the State's transition to a clean energy economy. The clean energy program shall design, implement, and administer activities that include:

(1) Strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, deployment, and permitting of clean and renewable technologies;

(2) Engineering and economic evaluations of Hawaii's potential for near-term project opportunities for the State's renewable energy resources;

(3) Electric grid reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a substantial increase of electricity from renewable-energy resources;

(4) A statewide clean energy public education and outreach plan to be developed in coordination with Hawaii's institutions of public education;

(5) Promotion of Hawaii's clean and renewable resources to potential partners and investors;

(6) A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to transition the State to a clean energy economy; [~~and~~]

(7) A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to assist each county in transitioning to a clean energy economy[.]; and

(8) A plan, to be implemented from 2020 to 2030, to increase jobs aligned with the State's transition to a clean energy economy, especially those jobs that meet or exceed the self-sufficiency standard established by the department of business, economic development, and tourism pursuant to section 201-3(a)(5)."

SECTION 3. Section 201-12.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Subject to legislative appropriation, moneys from the fund may be expended by the Hawaii state energy office for the following purposes and used for no other purposes, except for those set forth in this section:

(1) To support the Hawaii clean energy initiative program and projects that promote and advance dependable and affordable energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and greater energy security and resiliency for the State and public facilities;

(2) To fund, to the extent possible, the climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force;

(3) To support achieving the zero emissions clean economy target set forth in section 225P-5;

(4) To fund the building energy efficiency revolving loan fund established in section 201-20;

(5) To fund projects and incentives to promote the adoption of clean transportation technologies, develop clean vehicle charging infrastructure, and upgrade infrastructure to support the development of clean vehicle charging infrastructure; [~~and~~]

(6) To fund, to the extent possible, the duties of the state building code council in section 107-24, as they relate to the development of energy conservation codes[.]; and

(7) To create jobs that advance the State's goals of achieving greater energy security and adapting to climate change, including jobs that increase clean and renewable energy generation, reduce carbon emissions, expand sustainable agriculture and local food production programs, and advance the State's transition to a clean energy economy; provided that the priority shall be given to jobs that meet or exceed the self-sufficiency standard established by the department of business, economic development, and tourism pursuant to section 201-3(a)(5)."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to create a plan to increase jobs aligned with the State's transition to a clean energy economy.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1934
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII