STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1482

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 504

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 504, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Chief Energy Officer, Hawai'i State Energy Office

 

G.M. No. 504

MARK GLICK,

for a term to expire at noon on 12-07-2026,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Mark Glick for service as the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mark Glick from the Governor; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaii System; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Department of Transportation; Department of Taxation; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Public Safety; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Ulupono Initiative; Blue Planet Foundation; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260; Hawaii Energy; Hawaii Gas; Sunrun; Islander Institute; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; AES; Hua Nani Partners; Mālama Learning Center; Sustainable Molokai and the Molokai Clean Energy Hui; and twenty-one individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mark Glick's professional background, knowledge of energy policy, and experience in the development of projects for the private and public sectors qualify him for appointment as the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office.  Mr. Glick's experience in public service in the State spans nearly two decades, having served in several capacities at multiple state agencies.  Most recently, Mr. Glick served as a Specialist on Energy Policy and Innovation at the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, where he led the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute's energy policy practice in support of energy transitions and decarbonization efforts in the State through projects, publications, technical assistance, and counseling.  Mr. Glick also previously served as the Hawaii State Energy Office's Energy Administrator and as an Energy Project Manager and Senior Advisor.  During his previous roles with the Hawaii State Energy Office, Mr. Glick contributed to the drafting of Hawaii's one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard goal and helped the State exceed its 2015 interim renewable portfolio and energy efficiency portfolio standards by nearly ten percent.  Mr. Glick also managed over $9,000,000 in federally-funded projects to increase the number of renewable energy and energy efficiency installations in the State.  Prior to his work in the public sector in Hawaii, Mr. Glick co-founded and led a business systems integration and consulting firm in Austin, Texas that was dedicated to establishing alternative fuel transportation and pioneered efforts.  Your Committee believes that Mr. Glick's work experience in both the public and private sectors demonstrate his ability to be an effective leader and provide guidance on clean energy infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and energy security.

 

     Your Committee notes that Mr. Glick brings more than forty years of experience working with energy issues and has published extensively on the topic.  Mr. Glick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Lamar University and a Master of Science in Public Management and Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University, and has authored more than ten publications on energy issues since 2000.  Additionally, Mr. Glick has testified before the Hawaii Legislature on more than two hundred legislative proposals relating to energy, economic development, and the environment, and as the Hawaii State Energy Administrator before the United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on issues such as energy and infrastructure challenges in the State and suggested actions the federal government could take to support job creation and innovation at the state and local level.  Mr. Glick's wealth of subject matter expertise gives your Committee great confidence that he will serve the State well as Chief Energy Officer and provide the Hawaii State Energy Office excellent policy guidance on clean energy infrastructure to help the State reach its renewable energy goals.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mark Glick be appointed as the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

 

 

 

____________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair