STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3813

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2372

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2372, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE LOAN PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend Act 164, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, to provide that out of the Act's general fund appropriation for the solar energy storage loan program for the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (BED138), $50,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024, shall be deposited into the clean energy and energy efficiency revolving loan fund established in section 196‑65.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be expended by the Authority to make solar and storage loans, subject to a lapsing date of June 30, 2025.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; 350Hawaii.org; Shifted Energy; Solarize808; Sunspear Energy; PV Tech; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that directing appropriated moneys to the clean energy and energy efficiency revolving loan fund will facilitate funding for solar and storage installations, which will address immediate financial challenges faced by nearly fifty percent of the State's residents and support underserved ratepayers. Your Committee also finds it appropriate that this measure will enable the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to continually leverage these funds by re-lending and re-investing those same public dollars, thus reaching and benefitting more Hawaii families over time.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to submit to the Legislature a report on plans to revolve moneys back into the green infrastructure special fund so that the fund is self-sufficient; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2372, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2372, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair