STAND. COM. REP. NO. 409

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 192

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 192 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the sale of certain fluorescent lamps in the State as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, Hawai‘i Energy, Blue Planet Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that advances in energy-efficient lighting have been made in recent years primarily through the adoption of light-emitting diodes, which are up to eighty percent more energy efficient than fluorescent bulbs. Additionally, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a toxic pollutant that can pollute the air and water and cause harm to wildlife and human health. This measure reduces energy use by phasing out the sale of mercury-containing bulbs and promoting the use of light-emitting diodes in the State, while preventing additional toxic pollutants from tainting the State's ecosystem.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 192, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 192, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair