STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3770

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 84

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 84 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO ENGAGE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT PRESENCE WITHIN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii State Energy Office to engage the United States Department of Energy to establish a permanent presence within the State of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii; University of Hawai‘i System's Hawaii Natural Energy Institute; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; and Hawaii Gas.

Your Committees find that the request for the establishment of a permanent presence in Hawaii proposed by this measure would give the United States Department of Energy (Energy Department) some discretion as to the nature of that permanent presence in the State. It could take a variety of forms, including but not limited to establishing an Energy Department office, national lab, research center, or field site. During the hearing, the Hawaii State Energy Office noted that the Energy Department currently has a callout to hire one thousand new employees across the country; it is unclear whether the Energy Department has the existing office space or the ability for all of these new hires to work remotely; and the Energy Department could be currently looking for space to establish a physical office. Your Committees note that the establishment of an Energy Department office in Hawaii could improve the placed-based results of various clean energy programs, increase federal funding, and attract highly-skilled workers to the State. Your Committees further note that in addition to providing copies of this resolution to the congressional delegation, the Legislature should also enlist their support on this matter.

Your Committees have amended this measure making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 84, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 84, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair