STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1296

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the expansion of hydrogen-based energy in the State.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Designates the Director of the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies as the State Hydrogen Implementation Coordinator;

     (2)  Requires the State Hydrogen Implementation Coordinator to:

          (A)  Facilitate hydrogen-based energy policies and infrastructure; and

          (B)  Convene the Hydrogen Implementation Working Group to study and examine methods

          to promote the expansion of hydrogen-based energy in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; and Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the High Technology Development Corporation.

     Your Committee finds that the automobile industry has spent billions of dollars developing automobiles that use hydrogen fuel.  However, a lack of proper infrastructure to supply hydrogen fuel has severely hampered widespread adoption of this alternative fuel source.  Your Committee believes that this measure takes necessary steps to develop hydrogen production and fueling stations within the State and will help to reduce the State's dependence on imported fossil fuel.

     With the prior concurrence of the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Technology, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Requiring that the State Hydrogen Implementation Coordinator act under the delegated authority of the Energy Resources Coordinator;

(2)  Formally establishing the Hydrogen Implementation Working Group; and

(3)  Specifying that the members of the Hydrogen Implementation Working Group shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessary for the performance of their duties.

     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. 1296, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1296, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair