STAND

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.677-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2836

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2836, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support increased energy efficiency in Hawaii by implementing the final recommendations of the Energy Efficiency Policy Task Force, which includes:

(1) Restricting tax credits and recommending appropriate tax credit levels and dollar caps;

(2) Encouraging the Department of Taxation (DOTAX) to collect detailed data on tax credits to support future analyses and to prepare appropriate administrative rules;

(3) Encouraging the Department of Human Services to use federal funds from the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program to install energy saving devices;

(4) Providing and supporting efficiency and renewable energy education programs;

(5) Supporting utility energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and

(6) Encouraging the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to continue to support increased energy efficiency and renewable resources.

The Energy Efficiency Policy Task Force, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, The Gas Company, Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Inter-Island Solar Supply, R&R Solar Supply, and Hydrogen Renewable Energy Enterprise, LLC, submitted testimony in support of this bill. An individual submitted testimony in support of this bill with proposed amendments. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and PowerLight Corporation submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill. DOTAX and Wholesale Motors, Inc., submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. PUC and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments on this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Adding a sunset provision for June 30, 2008; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

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. 2836, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2836, H.D. 2.

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

 

		____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair