Bill Text: HI SB653 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 653 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Electric Vehicles.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [SB653 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB653-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	653
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State of Hawaii has made significant progress in implementing policy to reduce the use of fossil fuels for energy generation. However, more than two-thirds of the fossil fuel imported into the State is used for transportation, which is not included in Hawaii's one hundred per cent renewable energy policy. Therefore, the legislature finds that the State must accelerate a transition to cleaner transportation to reach its carbon emissions reduction goals.

Although the cost of electric vehicles has decreased and continues to drop, the lack of electric vehicle charging systems remains a barrier to the more widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Creating incentives to build out a more robust electric vehicle infrastructure will make electric vehicles a viable option for more consumers, especially those who may not have a rooftop solar system that allows them to charge their electric vehicles at home at a lower cost.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Create a program within the department of business, economic development, and tourism that offers rebates for the installation of new electric vehicle charging systems or the upgrade of existing electric vehicle charging systems;

(2) Create the electric vehicle charging station rebate program special fund, to be funded from a portion of the revenue from the environmental response, energy, and food security tax; and

(3) Amend the uses of funds in the energy security special fund.

SECTION 2. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201- Electric vehicle charging system; rebate program; special fund. (a) The department shall administer a rebate program that incentivizes the installation or upgrade of an electric vehicle charging system, as provided in this section, and may contract with a third party to conduct the rebate program.

(b) A person who:

(1) Installs a new electric vehicle charging system where none previously existed; or

(2) Upgrades an existing electric vehicle charging system to either:

(A) A level two station with two or more ports that provide electricity to two or more electric vehicles simultaneously; or

(B) A level three station,

within a multi-unit dwelling containing eight or more residents, work place, or other publicly accessible commercial location that is accessible to visitors, residents, employees, or patrons of the location may apply to the department within twelve months of the date that the newly installed or upgraded charging system is placed into service to claim a rebate from the electric vehicle charging system special fund; provided that the installed or upgraded electric vehicle charging system shall have the ability to regulate its time of use for charging; provided further that the installed or upgraded electric vehicle charging system shall not be for private use, including individual residential uses, reserved parking stalls, and fleet charging. Failure to apply to the department within twelve months of the date that the newly installed or upgraded charging system is placed into service shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the rebate.

(1) Each eligible installation of an electric vehicle charging system shall receive:

(A) per cent of the cost of the installation of a level two station with a single port; provided that the amount of the rebate shall not exceed $ ;

(B) per cent of the cost of the installation of a level two station with two or more ports; provided that the amount of the rebate shall not exceed $ ; and

(C) per cent of the cost of the installation of a level three station; provided that the amount of the rebate shall not exceed $ ; and

(2) Each eligible upgrade of an electric vehicle charging system shall receive:

(A) per cent of the cost of the installation to a level two station with two or more ports; and provided that the amount of the rebate shall not exceed $ ; and

(B) per cent of the cost of the upgrade to a level three station; provided that the amount of the rebate shall not exceed $ .

(d) The department shall not issue more than $1,000,000 in total rebates under this section each fiscal year.

(e) The department shall:

(1) Prepare any forms that may be necessary for an applicant to claim a rebate pursuant to this section;

(2) Require each applicant to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim, including but not limited to documentation necessary to demonstrate that the installation or upgrade for which the rebate is claimed is eligible; and

(3) Post on a publicly available website, within regular and reasonable periods of time, the current amounts remaining in the electric vehicle charging system special fund.

(f) This section shall apply to electric vehicle charging systems that are installed or upgraded after December 31, 2019.

(g) Nothing in this section shall alter taxes due on the original purchase or upgrade price of an electric vehicle charging system prior to the application of the rebate. Any rebate received pursuant to the electric vehicle charging system rebate program shall not be considered income for the purposes of state or county taxes.

(h) There is established within the state treasury the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) Appropriations from the legislature; and

(2) All interest attributable to investment of money deposited into the fund.

(i) Moneys in the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund shall be used to:

(1) Make rebate program payments pursuant to this section;

(2) Pay the administrative costs for operating the electric vehicle charging system rebate program; and

(3) Pay the administrative costs for operating the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund.

(j) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(k) As used in this section:

"Electric vehicle charging system" has the same meaning as in section 196-7.5.

"Level two station" means an electric vehicle charging system that:

(1) Discharges 220-240 volt alternating current electricity; and

(2) Meets recognized standards, including standard SAE J1772 of SAE International.

"Level three station" means an electric vehicle charging system that utilizes direct current electricity rated at 440 volts or greater."

SECTION 3. Section 201-12.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Subject to legislative appropriation, moneys from the fund may be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the following purposes and used for no other purposes, except for those set forth in this section:

(1) To support the Hawaii clean energy initiative program[~~, including its energy division, including funding staff positions within the division,~~] and projects that ensure dependable, efficient, and economical energy, promote energy self-sufficiency, resiliency, and provide greater energy security for the State;

(2) [~~To fund the renewable energy facilitator pursuant to section 201-12.5 and any other positions necessary for the purposes of paragraph (1) as determined by the legislature; and~~

~~(3)~~] To support achieving the zero emissions clean energy target set in section 225P-5;

(3) To fund the building energy efficiency revolving loan fund established in section 201-20;

(4) To fund incentives to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and to upgrade to electrical infrastructure to support the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure;

(5) To fund, to the extent possible, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force, climate change task force, [grants-in-aid to the economic development boards of each county, and grants-in-aid to economic development agencies of each county to meet the stated objectives of the Hawaii clean energy initiative program.] and programs to increase the resiliency of public facilities through renewable energy systems; and

(6) To fund, to the extent possible, the duties of the state building code council in section 107-24, as they relate to the development of energy conservation codes."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purposes authorized in section 2 of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2100.

Report Title:

Electric Vehicles; Charging System; Rebate Program; Establishment; Special Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide rebates to persons who install a new electric vehicle charging system or upgrade an existing electric vehicle charging system. Creates, and appropriates moneys out of, the electric vehicle charging station rebate program special fund. Amends the uses of funds in the energy security special fund. (SB653 HD1)

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