STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1415

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 346

       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 Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 346, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require that the design of new state facilities be electric vehicle charger-ready; 

 

     (2)  Require the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to survey and identify high priority state facilities for which the Office will consider cost assessments for retrofitting;

 

     (3)  Establish a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready; and

 

     (4)  Appropriate funds.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Accounting and General Services, Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Ulupono Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Climate Future Forum, Wild Kids, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, Hawaiian Electric, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, 350Hawaii.org, and twelve individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that Act 74, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, requires the State to transition its light-duty fleets to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.  While the State has experienced an increase of electric vehicle ownership, there are few facilities that offer broad support for workplace electric vehicle charging.  Your Committees further find that workplace charging can shift charging demand from peak hours, typically in the early evening, to times during the day when renewable energy is more economical and plentiful.  This measure ensures greater equity for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support the State's clean energy goals.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that a minimum of twenty-five percent of parking stalls shall be electric vehicle-charger ready; and

 

     (2)  Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 346, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 346, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.


 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

 

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair

 

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair