STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2676

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2720

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2720 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow for new electric vehicle charging stations having a single port to qualify for a rebate;

(2) Increase the flexibility of the Public Utilities Commission to administer the electric vehicle charging station rebate program; and

(3) Include marketing and outreach expenses within allowable administration costs of the electric vehicle charging station rebate program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaiian Electric Company, Blue Planet Foundation, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Tesla, Ulupono Initiative, 350 Hawaii, Our Revolution Hawaii, and Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawai‘i Energy.

Your Committee finds that climate change caused by carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment of Hawaii. While there is growing interest in electric vehicles among Hawaii residents, the lack of adequate vehicle charging infrastructure presents a key barrier to greater adoption. Therefore, the purpose of this measure is to provide a rebate for new Level 2 charging stations with one port, amend and add flexibility to the guidelines for consideration by the Public Utilities Commission in administering the program, and clarify that marketing and outreach expense are included among allowable program administration expenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that each installation or upgrade is eligible for up to the stated rebate dollar amounts;

(2) Inserting a rebate of up to $1,300 for upgrades to existing Level 2 station with one port; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2720, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair