STAND. COM. REP. NO. 128

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 855

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 855 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority's ability to support investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure by:

(1) Transferring the administration of the Building Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority;

(2) Amending the Building Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to be the Clean Energy Revolving Loan Fund and expanding the purpose of the Fund to include a broader range of clean energy technologies; and

(3) Appropriating funds to the Clean Energy Revolving Loan fund to make clean energy investment loans or for other approved uses.

The Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, Holu Energy, Hawaii Farmers Union, Blue Planet Foundation, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and an individual supported this measure. The State Procurement Office supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the section which appropriates general funds into the Clean Energy Revolving Loan Fund;

(2) Changing the amount appropriated out of the Clean Energy Revolving Loan Fund to an unspecified amount; and

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion.

Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $5,000,000 out of the Clean Energy Revolving Loan Fund for fiscal year 2019-2020 to provide loans or other financial assistance to make clean energy investments and for other authorized uses.

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. 855, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 855, 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