STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1331
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: S.B. No. 768
S.D. 2
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 Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 768, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization, KauaiEV, Think B.I.G, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Avis Budget Group, Enterprise Holdings, and 350Hawaii.org.
Your Committee finds that in order for the State to achieve its clean energy goals in a timely manner, programs that support the implementation of environmentally friendly transportation options are necessary. While electric vehicles are essential to reduce Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuels, your Committee notes that the State is not equipped with the appropriate infrastructure to support a large number of electric vehicles in the State. Electric charging infrastructure will need to be installed in various parts of the State, including airports, hotels, and residences. Your Committee further finds that next to public vehicle fleets, rental motor vehicles represent the largest passenger vehicle fleets in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that modernizing the rental car industry to support a one hundred percent electric vehicle fleet will bring the State closer to achieving its goal of clean energy by 2045.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the member of the Senate on the task force from the Chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee to one member appointed by the President of the Senate;
(2) Increasing the number of members representing the rental car industry on the task force from one to two;
(3) Including on the task force one local or regional representative of an auto manufacturing company, as invited by the chairperson of the task force;
(4) Changing the scope of the plan to determining the feasibility of installing, rather than ensuring the installation of, enough electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support a one hundred percent zero‑emission rental motor vehicle fleet by 2035; and
(5) 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 Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 768, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 768, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,
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____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair |
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