STAND. COM. REP. NO. 549-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1811

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1811, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow for new electric vehicle charging stations having a single port to qualify for a rebate under the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Rebate Program (Rebate Program);

(2) Increase flexibility of the Public Utilities Commission to administer the Rebate Program;

(3) Increase the maximum percentage of Rebate Program appropriations that may be expended for administrative costs; and

(4) Allow for marketing and outreach expenses to be included within allowable administration costs of the Rebate Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction, Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii.org, KauaiEV, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Hawai‘i Energy, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Tesla, Our Revolution Hawaii, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii and Hawai‘i Energy.

Your Committee finds that the State has committed to eliminating fossil fuels from the electricity and ground transportation sectors, abiding by the Paris Climate Accord's goal to limit the amount of global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, and achieving negative carbon emissions for Hawaii by 2045. Your Committee further finds that the number of electric vehicles in the State is rising as more electric vehicles come to market, the operable ranges of electric vehicles increase, and the costs of electric vehicles decrease.

Your Committee believes that, despite the growing interest in electric vehicles among the State's residents, electric vehicle adoption is hampered by the lack of adequate vehicle charging infrastructure. This measure is a critical component of the State's efforts to transition from fossil fuels and achieve a carbon-negative economy by 2045.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 1811, 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. 1811, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair