Bill Text: HI SCR144 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Renewable Energy; Ground Transportation; DBEDT Study

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-29 - Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SCR144 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SCR144-Amended.html

---

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	144
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, to conduct a study to examine the feasibility of eliminating imported fuels for ground transportation by 2045 and establish incremental targets by which to gauge progress.

 

     WHEREAS, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities are the most significant driver of observed climate change since the mid-twentieth century; and

 

     WHEREAS, global oil consumption related to ground transportation is a large contributor to increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere; and

 

     WHEREAS, ground transportation accounts for roughly twenty-three percent of all energy consumption in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2013, it was reported that 1,300,000 vehicles were registered in Hawaii, while the number of licensed drivers totaled 904,500, highlighting that some residents own more than one vehicle; and

 

     WHEREAS, petroleum-fueled vehicles subject consumers to fluctuations in crude oil prices, which vary according to global supply, global demand, oil inventory demand, and market speculation; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's dependency on imported oil, coupled by the increasing number of vehicle owners, could have adverse effects on the local environment and Hawaii's largest industries, including tourism, agriculture, and recreational and commercial fishing; and

 

     WHEREAS, oil is imported to Hawaii internationally and drains the State's economy of billions of dollars each year; and

 

     WHEREAS, a stronger local economy depends on a transition away from ground transportation powered by imported oil and toward ground transportation powered by local renewable energy resources, which keeps millions of dollars in the State, creates local jobs, and provides energy security and self-sufficiency; and

 

     WHEREAS, scalability of renewable energy will ultimately decrease and contain costs so consumers are not negatively affected by volatile prices; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States and one hundred ninety-five countries entered into the Paris Agreement which, within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, seeks:

 

     (1)  A long-term goal to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels;

 

     (2)  To limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;

 

     (3)  To reach global peaking of GHG emissions as soon as possible, recognizing that this will take longer for developing countries; and

 

     (4)  To undertake rapid reductions in GHG emissions thereafter in accordance with the best available science; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has shown its commitment to decreasing GHG emissions and increasing renewable energy by adopting the Clean Energy Initiative, becoming the first state to set a goal of increasing its renewable portfolio standards to one hundred percent by 2045; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii provides an ideal test bed to accelerate the use of renewable energy to fuel ground transportation, which reduces oil usage and GHG emissions; and

 

     WHEREAS, eliminating imported fuels for ground transportation requires a phased approach to ensure the State can achieve set benchmarks; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State should provide incentives and investments for ground transportation projects fueled by renewable energy; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, are requested to conduct a study that focuses on researching the feasibility of eliminating imported fuels for ground transportation by 2045 and establish incremental targets by which to gauge progress; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include possible grants, programs, policy plans, tax credits, and tax exemptions for research and enterprises related to commercializing renewable energy fueled ground transportation projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in reporting its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, if the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii State Energy Office determine that the 2045 target year is not feasible to eliminate imported fuel for ground transportation, then the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to propose an alternative target year; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to utilize the report in future programs and budgetary planning; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Hawaii State Energy Office Energy Administrator.

Report Title: 

Renewable Energy; Ground Transportation; DBEDT Study