HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2423
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that cement is the primary binding component of conventional concrete products and accounts for approximately seven per cent of all annual global carbon emission. The legislature also finds that lower carbon concrete technologies exist to make concrete stronger and reduce the volume of materials required. Further, the highways division of the department of transportation has adopted these technologies to achieve a cost-neutral reduction in carbon emitted by all state highway projects. The legislature acknowledges that the State also uses a large amount of concrete in other public works projects. The legislature believes that adopting a similar strategy to the highways division will provide an opportunity to help the State to achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045 at no additional cost.

The legislature notes that other jurisdictions, including Colorado; New York; Portland, Oregon; Marin County, California; and Langford, British Columbia, have established, or are in the process of establishing, standards for low-carbon concrete. Additionally, in 2019, the city and county of Honolulu adopted a resolution that "requests the city administration to consider using carbon dioxide mineralization concrete for all future city infrastructure projects utilizing concrete."

The department of transportation has detailed engineering standard specifications that have been applied successfully in highway projects with materials supplied by local concrete businesses on Oahu. The legislature believes that these same standards should be adopted for public works projects. The legislature notes that the standards provide that "[p]rojects on Oahu will utilize CO₂ Mineralization technology or equivalent. Supplementary cementitious materials . . . , CSH-SEA or equivalent or combination thereof the previously mentioned methods may also be used. Concrete design shall allow a reduction of portland cement content while maintaining the concrete design strength, durability and other requirements."

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require that all public works construction projects conform to certain carbon concrete standards.

SECTION 2. Chapter 103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§103- Carbon concrete standards. Each public works project shall conform to the applicable carbon concrete standards contained in division 600 of the highways division of the department of transportation's special provisions for standard specifications dated July 10, 2020."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Construction; Public Work Projects; Carbon Concrete Standards

Description:

Requires all public works construction projects to conform to certain carbon concrete standards.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.