STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2103

H.D. 2

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 H.B. No. 2103, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG DURATION CLEAN ENERGY STORAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program and Hydrogen Investment Capital Special Fund to include a broader focus on long duration clean energy storage;

(2) Transfer responsibility for the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program to the Hawaii State Energy Office; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Energy and Climate Action Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Environmental Caucus.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, can affect the supply and availability of all forms of energy, including local renewable resources and imported fuels. Your Committee further finds that the ability to store locally produced clean energy through long duration clean energy storage technologies can help mitigate the risk of supply disruptions during extreme weather or other events. This measure supports the continued development and storage of resilient, sustainable, and locally produced clean energy in the State and makes the State a competitive candidate for clean energy storage federal grants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2103, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2103, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair