STAND. COM. REP. NO. 55

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 327

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 327 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Convene a sustainable aviation fuel task force within the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop a state action plan to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of international air transportation from Hawaii; and

(2) Require the task force and Hawaii State Energy Office to submit reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Climate Protectors Coalition, Life of the Land, Imua Alliance, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that many of the requirements and renewable energy goals of the State have been focused on the electricity and ground transportation sectors as sources of greenhouse gas emissions. However, not much regard has been given to emissions from other forms of transportation or other major economic drivers. Developing an action plan to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by other forms of transportation, such as air transportation, will contribute to a holistic plan of action for Hawaii regarding policy, technology, funding, and facilitation of public and private actions on climate change mitigation.

Your Committee notes that an appropriation amount of $100,000 to $200,000 will likely be necessary for the task force to effectively perform its duties and requests that any of your subsequent Committees on referral further examine this issue, as applicable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 327, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 327, 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