STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2160

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2451

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2451 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN ATMOSPHERIC CARBON CAPTURE PLANT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to direct the Hawaii State Energy Office, in conjunction with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, to develop and submit a strategy report to the Legislature by 2026 for the construction of at least one atmospheric carbon capture plant in the State by 2029.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Energy and Climate Action Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and five individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawaii System, and Life of the Land.

Your Committees find that the threats posed by climate change are of concern to the State. Advances in technology now allow for carbon to be scrubbed from the atmosphere through the operation of carbon capture plants like those constructed in other jurisdictions that have successfully removed millions of tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Construction of any carbon capture plants in the State will require extensive preparation, such as a thorough environmental review and a robust lifecycle emissions analysis to determine the efficacy of the carbon capture plant due to the substantial energy requirements of atmospheric carbon capture.

Your Committees have heard the concerns raised in testimony concerning the proposed timeframe for development of a carbon removal plant for technical and cost reasons. Your Committees find that this concern merits further consideration and requests that subsequent Committees who choose to hear this measure further examine the feasibility of the proposed construction deadline, including recommendations on construction time, cost, and environmental impact.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an unspecified date for the proposed construction deadline for the development of a carbon capture plant, to encourage further discussion;

(2) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2451, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2451, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair