STAND. COM. REP. NO.  33

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 329

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 329 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require solar conduit and electrical panel readiness for new residential construction and electric vehicle readiness when an electrical panel and parking area are installed.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ulupono Initiative, Our Revolution Hawaii, 350Hawaii.org, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from NAIOP Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State must prepare for the future installation of infrastructure that supports renewable energy, including photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle charging stations.  Your Committee believes that the most cost efficient way to achieve this is by focusing on installing such infrastructure during the construction of new homes, rather than trying to retrofit existing homes.  This measure will bring the State closer to achieving its renewable energy goals by requiring new residential construction to be solar conduit, electric panel, and electric vehicle ready.

 

     Your Committee has 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 record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 329, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TROY N. HASHIMOTO, Chair