Bill Text: HI HB1694 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating To Heat Abatement.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-03 - Re-referred to EEP/LHE, FIN, referral sheet 14 [HB1694 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1694-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1694

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEAT ABATEMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that $100,000,000 was appropriated for the department of education's heat abatement program in 2016.  To advance Hawaii's clean energy goals, the legislature also required the department of education to establish a goal of becoming net-zero with respect to energy use by January 1, 2045.  The legislature further required the department, and any contractor hired by the department to implement classroom cooling measures, to maximize energy efficiency, installation, and operating cost savings over the entire life of heat abatement projects.

     The legislature additionally finds that while $100,000,000 appropriated in 2016 successfully funded heat abatement upgrades for over one thousand three hundred public school classrooms, over five thousand additional classrooms still require heat abatement improvements.  With classroom temperatures continuing to escalate because of the impact of climate change on the islands, advancing heat abatement upgrades throughout public schools remains a high priority.

     The purpose of this Act is to expedite the cooling of all public school classrooms to a temperature conducive to student learning by authorizing the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund to be used to subsidize installation costs for energy-efficient air conditioning at public schools.

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-65, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Moneys in the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund may be used, subject to the approval of the public utilities commission, for the purposes of:

     (1)  Making green infrastructure loans, including for installation costs for energy-efficient air conditioning, energy-efficient lighting, and other energy-efficiency measures;

     (2)  Creating a $50,000,000 sub-fund, as a revolving line of credit within the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund, for any state agency to obtain financing to implement cost-effective energy-efficiency measures;

     (3)  Paying administrative costs of the Hawaii green infrastructure loan program;

     (4)  Paying any other costs related to the Hawaii green infrastructure loan program; or

     (5)  Paying financing costs, as defined in section 269-161, to the extent permitted by the public utilities commission in a financing order issued pursuant to section 269-163."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purpose of financing the installation costs for energy-efficient air conditioning at public schools.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii green infrastructure authority for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The department of education, with approval of the governor, is authorized to borrow the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 from the green infrastructure loan program for the purposes of this Act upon such terms and conditions as are agreed to between the department of education and the Hawaii green infrastructure authority; provided that the loan shall be issued free of interest charges.

     SECTION 5.  The department of education shall submit an expenditure plan to the Hawaii green infrastructure authority executive director, who shall serve as the fiscal administrator for the loan issued pursuant to section 4 and may make payment on behalf of the department of education, as appropriate, upon submission of requests for payment from the department of education.

     SECTION 6.  Beginning with fiscal year 2020-2021, the department of education shall begin to repay the loan issued pursuant to section 4 using general revenue savings resulting from reduced utility costs as a result of the installation of energy-efficient air conditioning and other energy-efficient measures.

     SECTION 7.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Heat Abatement; Green Infrastructure; Appropriation

 

Description:

Expands authorized expenditures from the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund to include energy-efficient air conditioning.  Appropriates funds and authorizes the department of education to borrow funds from the green infrastructure loan program for heat abatement.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

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