STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3080

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2622

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2622 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BIOFUELS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and provide moneys for a two-year pilot project on the island of Molokai to grow crops for biodiesel fuel production.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Pacific Biodiesel Technologies and the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Pacific Agricultural Land Management Systems and Hawaii Oil Seed Producers.

 

     Your Committee finds that supporting local agricultural production is critical to diversifying Hawaii's economy.  The feedstock produced through this pilot project can be processed into biofuels and other value-added products, benefiting farmers, feedstock processors, and the environment while also creating jobs.  Your Committee also finds that the production of biofuels will help the State reach the goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified sum to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical nonsubstantive change 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 S.B. No. 2622, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2622, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair