STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1418-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2570

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2570, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE FUELING REBATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Zero-Emission Vehicle Fueling System Rebate Program;

(2) Establish the rebate amount for the installation or upgrade of a hydrogen fueling system;

(3) Establish a hydrogen fueling system subaccount within the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund; and

(4) Reduce the allocation that the Energy Systems Development Special Fund receives from the Environmental Response, Energy, And Food Security Tax from 8 cents to 5 cents and allocates the difference to the hydrogen fueling system subaccount.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawai‘i Energy, Ulupono Initiative, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Servco, Hawai‘i Gas, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from KauaiEV and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Public Utilities Commission, Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that zero-emission vehicles play an integral role in Hawaii's clean energy future. With the continued adoption of electric vehicles and the development of additional types of zero-emission vehicles such as hydrogen-fueled vehicles, establishing a rebate program for hydrogen fueling systems that parallels the Electric Vehicle Charging System Rebate Program will provide additional clean energy infrastructure and clean mobility solutions for Hawaii residents and visitors.

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 S.B. No. 2570, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair