STAND. COM. REP. NO. 981

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 964

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population of less than eight hundred thousand.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Heartland Water Technology, IBEW Local Union 1186, Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Circular Hawaii, Energy Justice Network, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, HECA Solid Waste Task Force, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Life of the Land, Mr. K's Recycle and Redemption Center Inc., Recycle Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable Kohala, Zero Waste Kauai, 350 Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committee finds that using waste-to-energy technology can help reduce the State's solid waste stream by diverting waste from landfills while producing energy and extracting valuable materials for recycling. Accordingly, your Committee finds that the authorization in this measure to develop waste-to-energy facilities will help the State meet its goals of reducing the solid waste stream and increasing the production of sustainable energy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair