STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1816

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 192

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 192, H.D. 2, 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 prohibit the sale of certain fluorescent lamps as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Energy, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Ulupono Initiative, 350Hawaii.org, and twelve individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Alliance of Automotive Innovation.

 

     Your Committee finds that fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can harm human health and the environment.  When fluorescent bulbs are broken, they present a health hazard to those nearby and to the environment.  Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, last about twice as long as fluorescent bulbs and use approximately half the electricity to produce the same amount of light.  LEDs also do not contain mercury, meaning they can be disposed of conveniently and more cheaply than fluorescents.  This measure will help avoid the dumping of hazardous lamps in Hawaii from other jurisdictions that have banned these products, reduce electricity bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and avoid the production of harmful mercury.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 192, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 192, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair