STAND. COM. REP. NO. 446

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1497

       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 S.B. No. 1497 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish the Highways Clean Energy Technology Pilot Program within the Department of Transportation;

 

     (2)  Require a report to the Legislature; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that the State has an opportunity to generate renewable energy using lands in the state highways rights-of-way.  Other jurisdictions across the county successfully and safely deployed solar power by installing solar panels in shoulders and medians to generate clean energy.  This measure establishes a Highways Clean Energy Technology Pilot Program to contribute to the achievement of the State's clean energy goals, while also achieving energy security and resilience in rural communities.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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 S.B. No. 1497, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1497, 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