STAND. COM. REP. NO. 999-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1800

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE MITIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least seventy percent below 2005 levels by 2030;

(2) Require the Director of Health to report the baseline measurement of the 2005 greenhouse gas emissions in the State and to complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory report each year to track emissions and determine the State's progress in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and

(3) Require and appropriate funds for the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a study to determine Hawaii's pathway to decarbonization and identify challenges, opportunities, and actions that will be needed to achieve those goals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Recycle Hawaii and Clean the Pacific, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Kauai Women's Caucus, 350Hawaii.org, Imua Alliance, CTL Clean Future, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of The Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and eighteen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Hawai‘i State Energy Office, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaiian Electric Company, and three individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit for 2030 from at least seventy percent below 2005 levels to at least fifty percent below 2005 levels; and

(2) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair