STAND. COM. REP. NO. 140-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2413

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2413 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Health, to conduct a comprehensive study to determine best practices for the disposal and recycling of solar panels, and appliances dependent on solar energy, such as solar water heaters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Department of Health and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii PV Coalition, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association.

Your Committee finds that solar panels have a life expectancy of up to thirty years, and panels installed in the 1990s will start requiring disposal in the very near future. Many crystalline silicon solar panels will begin having significant dips in energy production and will need to be disposed of, recycled, or replaced. Therefore, your Committee finds that a study to determine best practices for the appropriate disposition of these panels and solar appliances would be prudent at this time.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the scope of the study to determine best practices for disposal and recycling of discarded clean energy products in the State;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 2413, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2413, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair