STAND. COM. REP. NO. 579-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2054

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2054, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to re-establish and appropriate funds for a two-year Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Energy Office; Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation; Oceanit; Hawai‘i Gas; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program was established in 2015 to provide matching grants to further strengthen and support Hawaii's local companies that are conducting renewable energy research and development through existing contracts with the United States Department of Defense Office of Naval Research. However, the program was only funded for two years. This measure would re-establish the program, which your Committee believes effectively leverages capital and contributes to economic development that benefits Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2054, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair