HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1580

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENERGY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels drains the state economy of billions of dollars each year.  The volatility of imported fuel prices creates significant risks for the economy and adds to costs for local families.  The legislature further finds that the use of fossil fuel reduces air quality and leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.  This contributes to climate change, which poses a serious threat to Hawaii's economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment.  Climate change harms marine ecosystems and causes sea levels to rise, which results in the displacement of coastal residences and businesses.  Climate change also poses a serious threat to public health by increasing the incidence of infectious diseases, asthma, and other health-related problems.

     The legislature notes that on a per-mile basis, it is less expensive to commute in an electric vehicle than it is to commute in a gas-powered automobile.  Residents can lower their cost of living by relying on local renewable energy for transportation and transitioning to less-expensive renewable vehicles and transportation systems.  However, in order for local consumers and families to benefit from these changes and properly transition away from expensive fossil fuel vehicles, Hawaii must be prepared with critical infrastructure elements, such as electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling stations.

     The purpose of this Act is to, among other things, begin the transition to one hundred per cent clean ground transportation in Hawaii by establishing a clean ground transportation benchmark framework, including a near term 2025 target supporting Hawaii's goal for the reduction and ultimate elimination of the use of imported fuels for ground transportation by 2045.  The legislature recognizes the potential difficulties in achieving a complete elimination of the use of imported fossil fuels for ground transportation by 2045, but intends for this Act to establish a goal and a plan to prepare state facilities to accommodate the transition from imported fossil fuels regardless of whether the transition is completed by 2045.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§196-    Hawaii clean ground transportation initiative.  (a)  The department of transportation, in collaboration with the state energy office of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall convene stakeholders, including ground transportation fuel providers, in a clean ground transportation forum to solicit and incorporate input on the department of transportation's clean ground transportation activities to help achieve the goals of this section, including:

     (1)  Identifying actions to support the clean ground transportation goals identified in section 196‑10.5(a)(8), in a manner that is consistent with the clean ground transportation goals identified in sections 226-17 and 226-18; and

     (2)  Developing recommendations regarding the additional steps necessary to help achieve the goals of this section.

     (b)  In its annual report submitted to the legislature pursuant to part II of Act 100, Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, the department of transportation shall include recommendations as developed pursuant to this section.

     (c)  For purposes of this section, "clean ground transportation" means ground transportation that avoids fossil fuel consumption.

     (d)  The clean ground transportation forum established by the department of transportation pursuant to this section shall not be subject to chapter 92."

     SECTION 3.  Section 196-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, a Hawaii clean energy initiative program to manage the State's transition to a clean energy economy.  The clean energy program shall design, implement, and administer activities that include:

     (1)  Strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, deployment, and permitting of clean and renewable technologies;

     (2)  Engineering and economic evaluations of Hawaii's potential for near-term project opportunities for the State's renewable energy resources;

     (3)  Electric grid reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a substantial increase of electricity from renewable-energy resources;

     (4)  A statewide clean energy public education and outreach plan to be developed in coordination with Hawaii's institutions of public education;

     (5)  Promotion of Hawaii's clean and renewable resources to potential partners and investors;

     (6)  A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to transition the State to a clean energy economy; [and]

     (7)  A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to assist each county in transitioning to a clean energy economy[.];

     (8)  From 2017 to 2025, the identification of and support for actions to reduce per capita retail sales of ground transportation fossil fuel by five per cent, in a manner consistent with section 226-17(a)(3).  The actions may include economic evaluation of the costs of implementing this reduction and other metrics to measure and evaluate progress towards the target reductions in ground transportation fossil fuel consumption; and 

     (9)  A report, to be submitted to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023 and every five years thereafter, that:

         (A)  Presents information on the progress in achieving established target benchmarks for the reduction of fossil fuel consumption in ground transportation;

         (B)  Establishes new target benchmarks for the reduction of fossil fuel consumption in ground transportation for five years from the previous target, consistent with section 226-17(a)(3); provided that the report may exclude new target benchmarks if the department of business, economic development, and tourism makes a finding that:

              (i)  The target benchmarks cannot be met in a manner that is beneficial to the economy of Hawaii in relation to comparable fossil fuel resources;

             (ii)  There are technological limitations on the availability or implementation of clean ground transportation alternatives that prevent the target benchmarks from being met; or

            (iii)  The target benchmarks cannot be met due to other barriers that create substantial limitations, restrictions, or prohibitions on clean ground transportation alternatives;

         (C)  Requests legislative action to support the achievement of the next target benchmarks for the reduction of fossil fuel consumption in ground transportation; and

         (D)  Requests an appropriation to fund an analysis required to develop new benchmarks in a timeframe necessary for the next report."

     SECTION 4.  Section 226-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Planning for the State's facility systems with regard to transportation shall be directed towards the achievement of the following objectives[:], giving due consideration to all:

     (1)  An integrated multi-modal transportation system that services statewide needs and promotes the efficient, economical, safe, and convenient movement of people and goods[.];

     (2)  A statewide transportation system that is consistent with and will accommodate planned growth objectives throughout the State[.]; and

     (3)  Increased energy security and self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination, by 2045, of imported fossil fuel for ground transportation and electrical generation."

     SECTION 5.  Section 226-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Planning for the State's facility systems with regard to energy shall be directed toward the achievement of the following objectives, giving due consideration to all:

     (1)  Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;

     (2)  Increased energy security and self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination, by 2045, of Hawaii's dependence on imported fuels for electrical generation and ground transportation;

     (3)  Greater diversification of energy generation in the face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems;

     (4)  Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and use; and

     (5)  Utility models that make the social and financial interests of Hawaii's utility customers a priority."

     SECTION 6.  Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, is amended by amending subsection (d) of section 2 to read as follows:

     "(d)  For the purposes of this Act:

     "Electric vehicle" means:

     (1)  A neighborhood electric vehicle; [or]

     (2)  A vehicle, with four or more wheels, that draws propulsion energy from a battery with at least four kilowatt hours of energy storage capacity that can be recharged from an external source of electricity[.]; or

     (3)  A fuel cell electric vehicle.

     "Fuel cell electric vehicle" means a zero-emission electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell to convert hydrogen gas and oxygen into electricity that is used in a vehicle powertrain for propulsion."

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that section 2 shall be repealed on January 31, 2046.



 

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Renewable Energy; Working Group

 

Description:

Establishes a clean ground transportation benchmark framework to maximize consumer fuel savings, including a near term 2025 target encouraging electric vehicle infrastructure buildout supporting Hawaii's goal for the reduction and ultimate elimination of the use of imported fuels for ground transportation by 2045.  Directs the department of transportation to collaborate with the state energy office to develop recommendations to achieve those benchmarks.  Amends the definition of electric vehicle to include fuel cell electric vehicles.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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