STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2147

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2504

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.B. No. 2504 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal:

(1) Part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, which requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with the University of Hawaii on workforce development activities that support the development of the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub and related aspects of the State's hydrogen energy industry; and

(2) The respective appropriation to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, 350Hawaii, and Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that it is necessary to repeal Part II of Act 66, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, as the application of the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub was not selected for funding by the United States Department of Energy. Your Committee notes that although the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub proposal was not selected, the Hawaii State Energy Office has gained considerable knowledge that could accelerate the development of green hydrogen use in the State and that two projects included in the proposal are still moving forward.

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 S.B. No. 2504, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair