STAND. COM. REP. NO. 215

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 690

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 690 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the sale of certain fluorescent lamps in the State as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, Hawai‘i Energy, Blue Planet Foundation, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Ulupono Initiative, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that all fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a toxic pollutant that bioaccumulates in the environment, can pollute air and water, and causes harm to wildlife and human health. Your Committee also finds that mercury-free alternatives exist for most of the thousands of products that contain mercury components, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are up to eighty percent more energy efficient than fluorescent bulbs and can last three to five times longer than fluorescent bulbs. Your Committee believes that LEDs offer a better choice because they do not contain any mercury, are more energy efficient, and are a cheaper life-cycle cost lighting option for consumers and businesses. This measure will prevent additional toxic pollutants from being brought into the State's ecosystem, reduce energy use, and save consumer dollars by prohibiting the sale of certain fluorescent lamps in the State as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 690, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 690, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair