STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2003

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2003, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ENERGY POLICY FORUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to support energy initiatives in the State.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates an unspecified amount of funds in part I for the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum at the University of Hawaii to continue to:

     (1)  Implement the Forum's Ten Point Plan to meet Hawaii's energy goals;

     (2)  Monitor energy-related policies and programs to achieve the energy vision and goals of the Forum;

     (3)  Refine and evaluate benchmarks for measuring outcomes of energy implementation strategies;

     (4)  Engage Hawaii's business, government, labor, and community leaders and integrate them into the policy activities and discussions of the Forum; and

(5)  Educate the greater community and create public awareness about Hawaii's energy needs.

The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum is to submit a report on the updated detailed action plan and timeline to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

     This measure also appropriates an unspecified amount of funds in part II to support the continued work of the Hawaii Energy Policy forum with the Energy-Efficient Transportation Strategies Working Group created by Act 254, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, to develop energy-efficient transportation strategies.  More specifically, the provisions:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to conduct a study on energy-efficient transportation strategies in conjunction with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Transportation; each county; and other members of the Energy-Efficient Transportation Strategies Working Group.  The study is to include:

          (A)  Determining the availability of data;

          (B)  Identifying gaps in critical data; and

          (C)  Developing a plan for developing, using, and maintaining a statewide transportation energy-efficiency information and monitoring system; and

     (2)  Provide funding to be expended by the Social Sciences Public Policy Center at the University of Hawaii to collect and analyze data and to develop a plan for developing, using, and maintaining a statewide transportation energy-efficiency information and monitoring system.

     The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum is to submit an interim progress report and a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2009 and 2010, respectively.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., and the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the University of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the State must continue its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.  Your Committee further finds that this measure builds on the considerable work and progress made by the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum and Energy-Efficient Transportation Strategies Working Group towards a more sustainable, renewable, and affordable energy future.

     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 H.B. No. 2003, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair