STAND. COM. REP. NO. 775

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 987

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 S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force within the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force within the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to develop a work plan and regulatory scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from certain transportation sources;

(2) Requires the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force to submit interim and final reports to the Legislature prior to the Regular Sessions of 2022 and 2023, respectively;

(3) Establishes a termination date for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force and authorizes the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to continue the work of the task force after this date; and

(4) Requires the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to submit annual reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from 350Hawaii, Airlines for America, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Climate Protectors Hawaii, and Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the burning of aviation fuel is a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Your Committee believes that establishing a task force to facilitate the development of sustainable aviation fuel will benefit the environment and potentially create a new, valuable industry in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying the appointing authority for certain listed task force members;

(2) Inviting, rather than requiring, specific private entities to serve on the task force;

(3) Codifying in statute, rather than session law, the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute's annual reporting requirements regarding the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force and data on clean transportation related to aviation transportation;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(5) 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 S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 987, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair