STAND. COM. REP. NO.  960

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 717

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 717, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ETHANOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement that gasoline sold in Hawaii for use in motor vehicles contain ten percent ethanol.

Aloha Shell Service and two concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, DuPont, Growth Energy, and Bioenergy Associates LLC testified in opposition.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chevron; POET Biofuel; Biotechnology Industry Organization; and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that the issue of whether the repeal of the ethanol requirement will save money for Hawaii consumers should be considered.

     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 S.B. No. 717, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair