STAND. COM. REP. NO. 51

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 346

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 346 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require that the design of new state facilities be electric vehicle charger-ready;

(2) Require the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to evaluate the cost for retrofitting existing state parking facilities to make them electric vehicle charger-ready; and

(3) Require and appropriate funds for the Department of Accounting and General Services to install or contract for the installation of retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at selected state facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Blue Planet Foundation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350Hawaii.org, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that the adoption of electric vehicles in the State has grown in recent years and is expected to continue to grow at increasing rates. However, there is a continuous need for a network of charging infrastructure to support this growth. This measure expands workplace charging availability in state facilities and ensures that there is an equitable transition to clean transportation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, is required to determine a priority order for retrofitting state facilities based on consideration of location, expected future demand for charging, estimated costs for retrofits of parking stalls, other make-ready work, other planned improvements, and other relevant factors;

(2) Requiring the Hawaii State Energy Office to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2024;

(3) Establish a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready;

(4) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Accounting and General Services to install or contract for the installation of retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at certain states facilities;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) 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 Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 346, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 346, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair