STAND. COM. REP. NO. 508

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 550

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 550, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require and establish deadlines for state facilities, except smaller facilities and facilities at Aloha Stadium, to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures;

(2) Direct the Hawaii State Energy Office to collect utility bill and energy usage data for state-owned buildings and make the data publicly available;

(3) Establish a goal for the State to achieve at least a twenty-five percent reduction in the electricity consumption of state facilities;

(4) Provide that certain agencies that perform energy efficiency retrofitting may continue to receive appropriations for energy expenditures; and

(5) Beginning July 1, 2022, require, where feasible and cost-effective, the design of all new state building construction to maximize energy and water efficiency, maximize energy generation potential, and use building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawai‘i Energy, 350Hawaii.org, Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the State has established multiple goals to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emissions of carbon with the renewable portfolio standards goals and Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target. Your Committee further finds that the State should act as a leader in the goal to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emissions of carbon. This measure helps to achieve those goals through smart energy management by reducing energy usage in certain state facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying provisions relating to the applicability of the simple payback period as it relates to energy efficiency implementation for state facilities;

(2) Clarifying that state facilities may take energy savings actions earlier than January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2025, respectively; and

(3) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 550, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 550, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair