STAND. COM. REP. NO. 536

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 691

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 691 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EFFICIENCY STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, instead of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to adopt rules to enforce minimum efficiency standards for certain products and adopt or amend minimum efficiency standards in certain situations; and

(2) Regulate the minimum efficiency standards for air purifiers, electric vehicle supply equipment, portable electric spas, residential ventilating fans, toilets, urinals, and water coolers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawai‘i Energy, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Climate Protectors Hawaii, and Ulupono Initiative. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Home Ventilating Institute.

Your Committee finds that numerous states have adopted robust state energy and water efficiency standards to conserve and protect water resources, lower electricity bills for residents and businesses by millions of dollars annually, and reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Your Committee believes that expanding the list of products requiring minimum efficiency standards can help Hawaii save millions of dollars on utility bills and offer even more benefits for Hawaii residents, businesses, the environment, and the economy as a whole.

This measure will establish minimum efficiency standards for any gaps left in federal standards to prevent manufacturers from sending appliances that do not comply with other states' standards to Hawaii to protect the State's resources and lower energy costs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 691, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 691, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair