STAND. COM. REP. NO.  491-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2004

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A STUDY ON ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation by appropriating funds for the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum (Policy Forum) to continue its study with the Energy-efficient Transportation Strategies Working Group (Working Group) resulting from Act 254, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007 (Act 254), to develop energy-efficient transportation strategies.

 

     The Policy Forum, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (and its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company, Ltd. and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.), and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers testified in support of this bill.  The High Technology Development Corporation supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Various modes of transportation, including motor vehicles, ocean vessels, and airplanes, are responsible for an inordinate amount of fuel consumption.  In 2007, the Legislature passed House Bill No. 869, enacted as Act 254, to encourage energy self-sufficiency in Hawaii by reducing its dependence on imported oil.  Act 254 appropriated funds to the Policy Forum to support its proposed study on energy-efficient transportation strategies in conjunction with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2004, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair