STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3404

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 3179

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3179 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage the local production of organic material used in producing biofuels and other bioenergy resources by making growers and producers of the organic material eligible for leases of public land without the necessity of a public auction, under Act 102, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002.

     Specifically, this measure amends the definition of "renewable energy producer" in section 171-95, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include growers and producers of organic material to be used primarily for the production of biofuels and other bioenergy resources.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light Company.

     Your Committees find that this measure will:

     (1)  Support the State's current energy policy promoting the development of renewable energy;

     (2)  Decrease the State's reliance on fossil fuels and assist in supplying the public with a reliable alternate source of fuel and energy; and

     (3)  Promote the renewable energy industry and increase employment opportunities related to the production of organic material used for biofuels and other bioenergy resources.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3179, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3179, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair