STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3562

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 97

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 97 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO CONVENE A RENEWABLE LIQUID FUELS WORKING GROUP TO STUDY LOCAL PRODUCTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE LIQUID FUELS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Renewable Fuels Working Group to study local production, development, and incentives for renewable liquid fuels.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; Par Hawaii; Hawaiian Airlines; Airlines Committee of Hawaii, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Gas; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Island Energy Services, Inc.; Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State is heavily dependent on various modes of transportation for tourism, commerce, and inter-island travel, which significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Your Committee further finds that renewable liquid fuels offer a viable solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions across various modes of transportation, including aviation, and the State has a vested interest in fostering a comprehensive, diverse portfolio of renewable liquid fuels. This measure establishes a working group to explore how to best incentivize the production of renewable liquid fuels in the State to provide valuable insights and recommendations for promoting the adoption and development of a diverse portfolio of renewable liquid fuels.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language requesting that the Renewable Fuels Working Group membership include:

(A) A representative from a local fuel importer with statewide logistical supply and distribution capability; and

(B) Any others, as invited by the Chairperson;

(2) Deleting language that would have requested the Renewable Fuels Working Group to submit to the Governor and Legislature an interim report providing an update of its work and progress no later than December 1, 2025;

(3) Inserting language requesting that the Renewable Fuels Working Group submit to the Governor and Legislature a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than January 1, 2025; and

(4) 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 97, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 97, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair