STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1329

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 592

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 592, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the sunset date of the alternative energy research and development pilot program to June 30, 2019, and to appropriate moneys for the pilot program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the High Technology Development Corporation; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Navatek; and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the alternative energy research and development pilot program was established in 2015 to provide grants to qualified businesses conducting alternative energy research and development.  The pilot program has proven to be successful, as three companies that were granted moneys through the pilot program went on to receive $11,300,000 in federal funding for alternative energy projects.  Your Committee believes that extending the pilot program will create and sustain high-paying, high-skilled local jobs, and move the State closer toward its one hundred percent renewable energy goals.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive change to correct a section numbering error.

 

     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. 592, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 592, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair