STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1033-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2738

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require state agencies to assess the feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit a report detailing their findings;

(2) Require state agencies to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the required reports no later than five years from the issue date of the reports; and

(3) Assign priority for the required energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Building Decarbonization Task Force of the Hawai‘i Environmental Change Agents; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Greenpeace Hawaii; 350Hawaii.org; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Green Party of Hawai‘i; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing, rather than requiring, state agencies to assess and report on the feasibility of installing distributed energy systems, implement and install the distributed energy systems within five years of the issue date of the report, and assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs;

(2) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the prioritization of the authorized energy efficiency measures for first responder facilities; and

(3) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair