STAND. COM. REP. NO. 727

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 550, H.D. 2, 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 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 all state-owned facilities' utility bill and energy usage data and make this 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 budget 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 generation, water efficiency, energy efficiency, and energy generation potential, and to 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, Ulupono Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawai‘i Energy, 350Hawaii.org, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Education; International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials; and Plumbers and Fitters UA, Local 675.

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. 550, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair