STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 350
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 1020
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1020 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish the Carbon Sequestration and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program and require an environmental assessment of the program's actions.
Your Committee finds that resource characterization via slim-hole bores can help identify water and carbon sequestration resources across the State. Your Committee further finds that these resources can serve as a viable form of renewable energy. This measure establishes the Carbon Sequestration and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program to identify the location and characteristics of underground water and carbon sequestration resources.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring the Hawaii State Energy Office to collaborate with the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to implement the Carbon Sequestration and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program and conduct an environmental assessment;
(2) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;
(3) Changing the number of positions established to an unspecified number;
(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriation amounts of:
(1) $16,500,000 for the Carbon Sequestration and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program; and
(2) $135,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position.
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. 1020, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1020, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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