STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1672

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    H.B. No. 550

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 550, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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 increase energy efficiency in state facilities.

 

     More specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Requires certain state facilities to implement energy-efficient measures by 2025, at the latest;

 

(2)  Requires the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to collect utility bills and energy usage data for state-owned facilities and to make that information available to the public;

 

(3)  Establishes a goal to reduce electricity consumption in state facilities by twenty-five percent compared to 2005 energy consumption; and

 

(4)  Requires that new state buildings be designed to be energy efficient.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii State Energy Office, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Energy, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350Hawaii, U.S. Green Building Council, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Clean The Pacific, and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Accounting and General Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that requiring that energy efficiency measures be implemented in state facilities will help to reduce the taxpayer burden, create clean energy jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lead by example to encourage private industry to implement similar environmentally conscious policies.

 

     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. 550, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair