STAND. COM. REP. NO.  27-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2005

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2005 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to update and expand the renewable energy technologies tax credit to include solar electric energy systems.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii County Council, the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Sopogy, Inc., and the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.

 

     Your Committee also received comments on the measure from the Department of Taxation, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and a concerned individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that solar electric energy can be produced from a broader range of technologies than just the photovoltaic process.  This measure expands the renewable energy technologies tax credit to include all technologies that can produce solar electric energy to allow consumers to utilize the latest renewable energy technologies, lower their energy costs, and to reduce the State's fossil fuel consumption.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2005 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair