STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1603

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1142

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1142, H.D. 2, S.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 provide funding for the electric vehicle charging system rebate program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Decreases the allocations of revenues generated by the environmental response, energy, and food security tax on each barrel of petroleum product that shall be deposited into the energy security special fund and energy systems development special fund;

(2) Requires that 3 cents of the tax on each barrel of petroleum product be deposited into the public utilities commission special fund for the electric vehicle charging system rebate program; and

(3) Establishes an electric vehicle charging system subaccount within the public utilities commission special fund, to be expended by the Public Utilities Commission to fund the electric vehicle charging system rebate program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Aloha Charge, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, Blue Planet Foundation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Faith Action Environmental Justice Task Force, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, KauaiEV, Think BIG, Ulupono Initiative, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Hawaii Energy, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that providing a dedicated source of funding for the electric vehicle charging system rebate program will help to improve the State's electric vehicle charging infrastructure, increase electric vehicle adoption, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that an allocation of the revenues generated by the environmental response, energy, and food security tax shall be directly deposited into the electric vehicle charging system subaccount of the public utilities commission special fund; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1142, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1142, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair