STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3476

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1800

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

(2) Require 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; and

(3) Appropriate funds out of the Energy Security Special Fund for the study.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Health, Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission, Department of Environmental Management of the County of Maui, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Kauai Women's Caucus, Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research, Skyline Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Clean Future Team at the Center for Tomorrow's Leaders Program, Imua Alliance, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, KauaiEV, Our Revolution Hawaii, U.S. Green Building Council, and forty-one individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric Company, NAIOP Hawaii, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, 350Hawaii.org, and one individual,

Your Committees find that climate change poses an immediate and long-term threat to Hawaii's economy, public health, natural resources, environment, and way of life. Although the State has adopted many goals and targets for climate change mitigation, additional action is needed to support a fully decarbonized economy. Accordingly, this measure requires a study to identify challenges, opportunities, and actions that will be needed to achieve decarbonization goals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the purpose of this measure;

(2) Removing the goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least fifty percent below 2005 levels by 2030;

(3) Requiring the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to conduct the study in place of the Hawaii State Energy Office;

(4) Clarifying the requirements of the study; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1800, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair