STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3652

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2681

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 2681, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds and appropriate funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to construct two electrolysis hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facilities, one on Oahu and one on a neighbor island, to be managed by the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies, Hawaii Food Industry Association, SanHi Government Strategies, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, and Servco Pacific Inc.

Your Committee finds that hydrogen fuel cell-powered transportation supports the decarbonization of the transportation sector and enables increased utilization of renewable energy throughout the State. Your Committee believes that the development and deployment of hydrogen infrastructure in the State will serve as a catalyst in further expanding the State's renewable energy technology portfolio, thereby reducing its dependency on fossil fuels, promoting financial independence, and creating an economy based on renewable energy technologies like hydrogen. Hydrogen is becoming an integral part of economic expansion throughout the world as it reduces reliance on fossil fuels and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. This measure will allow the State to achieve its renewable energy goals by establishing the foundation for hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facilities in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by

(1) Requiring that each electrolysis hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facility meet or exceed:

(A) All current Society of Automotive Engineers international hydrogen fueling standards and protocols, including J2601, J2719, and J2799; and

(B) The vehicle manufacturer's fueling standards and protocols for vehicles that are intended to use the electrolysis hydrogen facility; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2681, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2681, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair