STAND. COM. REP. NO. 450-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2738

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2738 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require state agencies to assess the feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit a report detailing their findings;

(2) Require state agencies to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the required reports no later than five years from the issue date of the reports; and

(3) Assign priority for the required energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Greenpeace Hawaii; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; and eight individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committees find that government functions and services are essential during times of emergency to adequately respond and provide services. First responders' functions need to be resilient to withstand disruptions to the electric grid and port activity. This measure will improve the efficiency and energy resilience of state facilities, particularly those of first responders.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2738, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2738, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair