STAND. COM. REP. NO. 243

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1140

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1140 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the issuance of certain new residential multi‑family and commercial building application permits and new state building application permits initiated on or after January 1, 2022, unless the building's parking stalls are electric vehicle charger ready; and

(2) Allow such buildings to implement an electric vehicle energy management system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association; KauaiEV; Mission Zero Hawaii; Big Island EV Association; Ulupono Initiative; Our Revolution Hawaii; 350Hawaii; Climate Protectors Coalition; Blue Planet Foundation; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Tesla, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Building Owners and Managers Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that while there is growing interest in electric vehicles among Hawaii residents, the lack of adequate vehicle charging infrastructure presents a key barrier to their acquisition. In addition, electric vehicle charger ready buildings in the public domain are essential for individuals who visit government buildings for public services. Requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure will result in significant long-term savings and provide clean mobility solutions for Hawaii residents and visitors.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the electric vehicle energy management system provides no less than 3.4 kilowatts of electricity to each parking stall;

(2) Clarifying the definition of "electric vehicle charger ready";

(3) Clarifying the definitions of "alternating current Level 2 charging station" and "direct current fast charging system";

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1140, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1140, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair