THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

717

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

C.D. 1

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ETHANOL.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in some states the mandated use of renewable fuels has created some economic benefit because those states are able to produce or cheaply import renewable fuels.  However, despite dozens of biomass, biodiesel, and ethanol facilities that have been proposed for Hawaii, no ethanol plants currently exist in the State.  Since 2006, Hawaii has required that gasoline sold in the State include ten per cent ethanol.  This requirement of blending ethanol into Hawaii's gasoline does not produce any economic benefit for the State; further, the import of ethanol creates an economic burden for state residents.

     The purpose of this Act is to repeal the requirement that gasoline for motor vehicles sold in the State include ten per cent ethanol.

     SECTION 2.  Section 486J-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§486J-10  Ethanol content requirement.  (a)  The director shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to require that gasoline sold in the State for use in motor vehicles contain ten per cent ethanol by volume.  The amounts of gasoline sold in the State containing ten per cent ethanol shall be in accordance with rules as the director may deem appropriate.  The director may authorize the sale of gasoline that does not meet these requirements as provided in subsection (d).

     (b)  Gasoline blended with an ethanol-based product, such as ethyl tertiary butyl ether, shall be considered to be in conformance with this section if the quantity of ethanol used in the manufacture of the ethanol-based product represents ten per cent, by volume, of the finished motor fuel.

     (c)  Ethanol used in the manufacture of ethanol-based gasoline additives, such as ethyl tertiary butyl ether, may be considered to contribute to the distributor's conformance with this section; provided that the total quantity of ethanol used by the distributor is an amount equal to or greater than the amount of ethanol required under this section.

     (d)  The director may authorize the sale of gasoline that does not meet the provisions of this section:

     (1)  To the extent that sufficient quantities of competitively-priced ethanol are not available to meet the minimum requirements of this section; or

     (2)  In the event of any other circumstances for which the director determines compliance with this section would cause undue hardship.

     (e)  Each distributor, at reporting dates as the director may establish, shall file with the director, on forms prescribed, prepared, and furnished by the director, a certified statement showing:

     (1)  The price and amount of ethanol available;

     (2)  The amount of ethanol-blended fuel sold by the distributor;

     (3)  The amount of non-ethanol-blended gasoline sold by the distributor; and

     (4)  Any other information the director shall require for the purposes of compliance with this section.

     (f)  Provisions with respect to confidentiality of information shall be the same as provided in section 486J-6.

     (g)  Any distributor or any other person violating the requirements of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $2 per gallon of nonconforming fuel, up to a maximum of $10,000 per infraction.

     (h)  The director, in accordance with chapter 91, shall adopt rules for the administration and enforcement of this section."]

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2015.

 



 

Report Title:

Ethanol; Motor Vehicles; Energy Efficiency

 

Description:

Repeals existing requirement that gasoline for motor vehicles be composed of ten per cent ethanol.  Effective December 31, 2015.  (CD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.