STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1113

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 89

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 89 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE TRAINING, COURSES, AND CURRICULA RELATED TO THE MECHANICS, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HYDROGEN VEHICLES, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES IN THEIR PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the University of Hawai‘i System (University) and Department of Education (DOE) to include training, courses, and curricula related to the mechanics, repair, and maintenance of electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles in their respective programs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i, and six individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committees find that the need to address the impacts of climate change on the natural and human environment is becoming increasingly urgent. Combustion of gasoline and diesel for cars and trucks releases climate-changing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, which is a major cause of global warming. Hawaii recognizes the importance of transitioning to clean energy across all sectors and ranks in the top five states in the nation for adoption of electric vehicles based on the percentage of vehicles purchased. The number of electric vehicles in Hawaii is expected to continue to increase. However, it is estimated that only three percent of automotive technicians have the skill set to work on electric vehicles, and only limited courses focused on electric vehicle mechanics, repair, and maintenance are offered through programs at the University and DOE. As Hawaii strives to achieve its goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045, your Committees find it imperative that the University and DOE include training, courses, and curricula related to the mechanics, repair, and maintenance of electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles in their respective programs, so that the State can develop a workforce of automotive technicians who are trained in said areas.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 89 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Education,

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair