STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1682
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: H.C.R. No. 193
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 193 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR AND STATE DEPARTMENTS TO INVESTIGATE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE DIRECT PAY PROVISION IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT ALLOWS FOR DIRECT PAYMENT OF CLEAN ENERGY INCENTIVES TO STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FOR THE COST OF INSTALLING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN STATE FACILITIES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting
and General Services, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Green Infrastructure
Authority, Hawai‘i
Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission, 350Hawaii.org, Blue
Planet Foundation, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association.
Your Committee finds that installing solar
energy systems on state facilities would lower energy use, save money for the
State and taxpayers in the long term, and reduce the State's contributions to
carbon emissions. Your Committee further
finds that the Inflation Reduction Act includes a provision allowing direct
payment of clean energy incentives to tax-exempt entities who cannot take
advantage of federal tax credits for clean energy, such as states and counties,
for activities such as installing solar energy systems, including batteries, on
state facilities. This measure
encourages state entities to pursue this opportunity and maximize the use of
federal funds to reduce the costs of installing renewable energy systems on
state facilities.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 193 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
|
|
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
|
|
|