Climate Legislation
2024 LEGISLATION
RELATING TO ENERGY.
Establishes the solar hui program to allow multi-family residential property owners to invest in a solar hui investment fund, which will provide repayment of income derived from energy services agreements to low- and moderate-income households to install solar energy systems. Establishes the solar hui program fund manager position. Appropriates funds.
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
Requires the Public Utilities Commission to explicitly consider the effect of the State’s reliance on fossil fuels on lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and gives the Public Utilities Commission the discretion to waive a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions assessment for energy projects that do not involve combustion.
RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
Prohibits the mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in all state marine waters, with certain exemptions. Prohibits the issuance of any permit for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with the mining, extraction, or removal of minerals from the seabed within state marine waters.
HR40 HD1
Requesting the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, to develop vehicle miles traveled reduction strategies and make related recommendations.
Requesting the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to conduct an educational program regarding the activities of individuals that contribute to climate change.
2023 LEGISLATION
RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS.
Appropriates funds to the
department of taxation for upgrades to software and computer systems. Requires
the department of business, economic development, and tourism to work with the
University of Hawaii on workforce development activities that support the
development of the Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub. Appropriates funds for the
Hawaii Pacific Hydrogen Hub.
RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
Requires the Hawaii Community
Development Authority to consider the impacts of climate change, sea level
rise, and climate-resilient development in the design and siting of buildings
in the Kakaako and Kalaeloa community development districts.
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Creates a mileage-based road
usage charge to replace state motor fuel taxes beginning on 7/1/2025, for
electric vehicles. Eliminates the $50 annual state vehicle registration
surcharge for electric vehicles. Allows electric vehicle owners to pay a
registration surcharge or a per-mile road usage fee until 6/30/2028. Requires
certificates of inspection to state the odometer reading of vehicles. Requires
motor vehicle registration applications to specify whether the type of fuel for
which the vehicle is adapted is battery electricity. Requires the Department of
Transportation to plan for the deployment of a state mileage-based road user
charge program by 2033 and submit a report to the Legislature.
RELATING TO EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.
Allows the chief energy
officer of the Hawaii state energy office to enforce minimum efficiency
standards and adopt or amend efficiency standards. Sets minimum efficiency
standards for portable electric spas, residential ventilating fans, toilets,
urinals, and water coolers. Allows manufacturers to utilize the Home
Ventilating Institute’s certified products directory certification program to
meet certain standards.
RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
Prohibits the sale of certain
fluorescent lamps as a new manufactured product, with certain exemptions.
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Establishes long-term goals
for zero-emissions transportation in Hawaii and abroad to reduce and eliminate
transportation emissions. Establishes the clean ground transportation working
group and the interisland and clean transportation working group. Requires
reports to the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission and
the Legislature.
RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURES WITHIN SHORELINE AREAS.
Requires disclosure of all
existing permitted and unpermitted erosion control structures on the parcel in
real estate transactions when residential real property lies adjacent to the
shoreline.
RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
Establishes the Safe Routes
to School Advisory Committee. Requires the Safe Routes to School Advisory
Committee to develop a comprehensive, statewide Safe Routes to School Plan.
Amends the duties of the Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School
Program. Deposits state highway funds into the safe routes to school program
special fund. Appropriates funds from the safe routes to school program special
fund.
2022 LEGISLATION
RELATING TO THE HAWAII YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS.
Authorizes the Governor to
designate the Department of Land and Natural Resources to administer or enter
into an agreement for the administration of a green jobs youth corps to provide
temporary work and training opportunities in the fields of natural resource
management, agriculture, or other sustainability-related professions to young
adults ages thirty-eight and younger. Requires the Department to partner with
an organization that has received accreditation from the Corps Center of
Excellence Accreditation Program or has at least ten years of experience
providing similar programming statewide in the State, or both.
RELATING TO THE HAWAII HYDROGEN STRATEGIC PLAN.
Requires the Hawaiʻi Natural
Energy Institute to conduct a study to examine the potential for the production
and use of renewable hydrogen in the State and the potential role of renewable
hydrogen in achieving a local, affordable, reliable, and decarbonized energy
system and economy. Requires a report to the Legislature.
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
Requires the department of
education, department of health, department of public safety, department of
defense, and University of Hawaiʻi system to ensure that a certain percentage
of food purchased for public schools, youth campuses, public hospitals, public
prisons, and University of Hawaiʻi system academic programs consists of fresh,
local agricultural products or local value-added, processed, agricultural, or
food products. Requires each of those departments and the University of Hawaiʻi
system to annually report to the legislature on progress made toward meeting
these benchmarks and clarifies the information to be reported.
RELATING TO FINANCING.
Creates a commercial property
assessed financing program under the administration of the Hawaiʻi Green
Infrastructure Authority. Allows commercial property owners to finance
qualifying improvements through a non-ad valorem special property tax
assessment.
RELATING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
Establishes the
Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Improvement District under the
Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority. Requires the Transit-Oriented
Development Infrastructure Improvement District Board to develop a program to
identify necessary infrastructure improvements within the district. Establishes
the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Improvement District Special
Fund.
RELATING TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION INCENTIVES.
Establishes the Hawaiʻi
Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Pilot Program to incentivize carbon
sequestration activities through incentive contracts that provide compensation
for eligible practices by program participants. Repeals the Carbon Offset
Program.
RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST THE
HAWAIIAN LEGACY REFORESTATION INITIATIVE TO RESTORE HAWAII’S FORESTS AND
NATURAL RESOURCES.
Authorizes the Department of
Budget and Finance to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist Hawaiian
Legacy Reforestation Initiative, LLC, in its mission to proliferate a
sustainable model of endemic reforestation, ecosystem revitalization,
endangered species recovery, and carbon credit sequestering.
RELATING TO CLIMATE MITIGATION.
Establishes a goal for the
statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least fifty per cent below
2005 levels by 2030. Requires the Hawaiʻi state energy office to conduct a
study to determine Hawaiʻi’s pathway to decarbonization and identify
challenges, opportunities, and actions that will be needed to achieve those
goals. Appropriates funds out of the energy security special fund for the
study.
RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
Requires and establishes
deadlines for state facilities, except smaller facilities, to implement
cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Directs the Hawaiʻi State Energy
Office to collect utility bill and energy usage data for state-owned buildings
and to make the data publicly available. Beginning 7/1/2023, where feasible and
cost-effective, requires the design of all new state building construction to
maximize energy and water efficiency, maximize energy generation potential, and
use building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.
Amends the definition of
“renewable portfolio standard” to mean a percentage of electrical
energy generation, rather than sales, excluding customer-sited fossil fuel
generation. Expands the events or circumstances that are beyond an electric
utility company’s reasonable control to include non-renewable energy generated
by electric generation facilities over or of which the electric utility does
not have direct control or ownership. Requires electric utility companies to
track and annually report data and trends on customer retention and attrition
to further inform the calculation of the renewable portfolio standards.
RELATING TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE FUELING REBATES.
Establishes the zero-emission
vehicle fueling system rebate program. Establishes the rebate amount for the
installation or upgrade of a hydrogen fueling system at $200,000. Establishes a
hydrogen fueling system subaccount within the public utilities commission
special fund. Reduces the allocation that the energy systems development
special fund receives from the environmental response, energy, and food
security tax from 8 cents to 5 cents and allocates the difference to the
hydrogen fueling system subaccount.
RELATING TO COMPOSTING.
Establishes and appropriates
funds for a compost reimbursement program within the Department of Agriculture
and for one full-time permanent compost reimbursement program manager position.
Requires an annual progress report to the Legislature prior to each regular
session.
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
Establishes the Electric
Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program and subaccount to encourage the
purchase and use of electric bicycles and electric mopeds. Appropriates funds
for the electric bicycle and electric moped subaccount.
2021 LEGISLATION
ACT 073
RELATING TO PROCUREMENT OF CONTRACTS FOR VEHICLE RENTALS
Requires all agencies of the State, when renting a vehicle on behalf of a state employee conducting official government business, to adopt a preference for renting electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles; provided that such a vehicle is suitable for the specific travel requirements and available when needed.
ACT 074
RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Part I: Establishes clean ground transportation goals for state agencies to achieve a one hundred per cent light-duty motor vehicles zero-emission fleet by December 31, 2035. Part II: Authorizes the department of accounting and general services to approve state fleet acquisitions, including zero emission vehicle requirements for light-duty motor vehicles that are passenger cars and light-duty motor vehicles that are multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks, with allowance for exemptions.
ACT 075
RELATING TO ENERGY
Allocates three cents of the barrel tax to fund the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. Establishes a subaccount in the public utilities commission special fund for the EV charging system rebate program. Reallocates a portion of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to be deposited into the subaccount. Appropriates funds out of the energy security special fund for the EV charging system rebate program. Authorizes each county to adopt ordinances to enforce section 291-71, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with its requirements or make reasonable efforts to maintain EV charging systems in working order. Establishes penalties for parking any vehicle in a parking space equipped with an electric vehicle charging system while not actively charging. Requires new EV charging systems installed pursuant to the EV charging system requirement to be at least Level 2 and network-capable beginning 1/1/2022. Clarifies that certain enforcement officers may enter private property to enforce EV parking space violations.
ACT 082
RELATING TO ENERGY
Requires the public utilities commission to determine whether analysis of the effect of the State’s reliance on fossil fuels is necessary for proceedings involving water, wastewater, or telecommunications providers on an individual basis. Provides that the analysis is not required for a utility’s routine system replacements or determinations that do not pertain to capital improvements or operations.
ACT 092
RELATING TO ENERGY
Requires the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, in consultation with the department of health, to conduct a comprehensive study to determine best practices for disposal, recycling, or secondary use of clean energy products in the State.
ACT 107
RELATING TO DBEDT
Establishes the clean energy and energy efficiency revolving loan fund. Repeals the building energy efficiency revolving loan fund. Authorizes moneys in the green infrastructure special fund to be used to finance the option to purchase solar energy systems and other clean energy equipment, including the purchase or lease of electric vehicles. Clarifies the definitions of loan program and green infrastructure loans as they relate to the issuance of GEMS bonds. Appropriates an unspecified amount out of the clean energy and energy efficiency revolving loan fund. Appropriates funds to provide loans or other financial assistance to eligible borrowers for clean energy investments.
ACT 125
RELATING TO SIDEWALKS
Requires the department of transportation and each county’s transportation department to maintain a priority list of sidewalk installation and pedestrian improvement projects and to publish the priority list on their respective websites.
ACT 131
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION
Requires the department of transportation to create motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian highway and pathway networks. Creates annual reporting requirements.
ACT 175
RELATING TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
Moves the Hawaiʻi farm to school program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. Establishes a programmatic goal for the Department of Education that at least 30% of food served in public schools shall consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Creates an annual reporting requirement.
ACT 178
RELATING TO SLR ADAPTATION
Requires the Office of Planning, in cooperation with each state agency having operational responsibilities over state facilities, to: identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding impacts, and natural hazards; assess a range of options to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise to those facilities; and submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Hawaiʻi climate change mitigation and adaptation commission regarding the vulnerability and adaptation assessments for state facilities and the progress made in implementing sea level rise adaptation in future plans, programs, and capital improvement needs and decisions. Amends the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act to include sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and sea level rise adaptation as objectives for facility systems.
ACT 179
RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
Requires that mandatory seller disclosures in real estate transactions include identification of residential real properties lying within the sea level rise exposure area. Takes effect 5/1/22.
ACT 180
RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL
Establishes the sustainable aviation fuel program to provide matching grants to any small business in Hawaiʻi that is developing products related to sustainable aviation fuel or greenhouse gas reduction from commercial aviation operations.
ACT 181
RELATING TO JOB CORPS PROGRAM
Allows the governor to designate the department of land and natural resources to administer or enter into agreements for the administration of a green job youth corps program that provides temporary work and training opportunities to help address the unemployment impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support economic diversification. Requires a report to the legislature. Appropriates American Rescue Plan Act funds.
2020 LEGISLATION
ACT 016
RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
Amends coastal zone management laws to further protect against impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion.
ACT 023
RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Prohibits, after 6/30/2020, the approval of a new or renewed power purchase agreement for electricity generated from coal. Prohibits, after 6/30/2020, the modification of a coal power purchase agreement that proposes to extend the term or increase the amount of generation that is allowed to be produced under the existing agreement. Prohibits, after 12/31/2022, the issuance or renewal of covered source air permits for coal-burning electricity generation facilities.
ACT 045
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF PLANNING
Establishes a statewide sustainability branch within the Office of Planning. Updates and reaffirms the role of the office to coordinate among state agencies regarding climate change adaptation and sustainability.
ACT 061
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
Amends the requirements for each solar energy system to claim the renewable energy technologies income tax credit.
2019 LEGISLATION
ACT 092
RELATING TO ENERGY DATA
Permits the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to share energy data with the Department of Health for purposes of regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
ACT 122
RELATING TO HAWAIʻI STATE ENERGY OFFICE
Establishes the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office and Chief Energy Officer position in Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). Repeals Director of DBEDT’s function as Energy Resources Coordinator and Renewable Energy Facilitator. Transfers Coordinator, Facilitator, and existing DBEDT energy office employees and functions to the Office. Amends allowable uses and funding amount of the Energy Security Special Fund. Appropriates operating funds and establishes position ceilings for the Office. Appropriates funds for a carbon pricing study.
ACT 142
RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Establishes a rebate program for installation of eligible new or upgraded multi-user electric vehicle charging systems. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to contract for third-party administration of the rebate program. Appropriates funds.
ACT 146
RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY
Requires the Office of Planning to update the Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan and submit the updated plan to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2021 and every tenth session thereafter, using the goals and priority guidelines of the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act and the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative as guiding principles. Appropriates funds.
ACT 151
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE
Requires the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor, to develop a strategic plan to double local food production and increase food exports by 2030. Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit the strategic plan to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
ACT 160
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR MELE ASSOCIATES, INC., A RENEWABLE EVERGY DEVELOPER SERVING THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN PROVIDING ELECTRIC ENERGY
Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to Mele Associates, Inc., a renewable energy developer, for the provision of electric energy and installation of renewable energy projects in Hawaiʻi.
ACT 254
RELATING TO PLASTIC
Creates the plastic source reduction working group to make recommendations to reuse, reduce, recycle, and recover plastic waste.
2018 LEGISLATION
ACT 015
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Renames the Carbon Farming Task Force established by Act 33, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2017, as the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force and makes the task force and Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative permanent. Aligns the State’s clean energy and carbon sequestration efforts with climate initiative goals. Amends membership and duties of the Task Force. Establishes a zero emissions clean economy target for the State. Makes an appropriation.
ACT 016
RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Requires the Office of Planning in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force to establish a framework for a carbon offset program and report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
ACT 017
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Establishes a rebate program for installation of eligible new or upgraded multi-user electric vehicle charging systems. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to contract for third-party administration of the rebate program. Appropriates funds.
ACT 067
RELATING TO ENERGY
Authorizes the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation to provide fifty per cent matching grants to Hawaiʻi awardees of alternative energy research grants from the United States Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research. Makes appropriations.
ACT 104
RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION
Beginning January 1, 2021, bans the sale, offer of sale, or distribution in the State of any sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate, or both, without a prescription issued by a licensed healthcare provider to preserve marine ecosystems.
ACT 121
RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Creates a revolving line of credit sub-fund within the Hawaiʻi green infrastructure special fund for a state agency to finance cost-effective energy-efficiency measures.
ACT 143
RELATING TO BIOFUELS
Expands the renewable fuel tax credit cap by lowering the production threshold and expanding the types of renewable fuel eligible for the credit. Applies to taxable years after 12/31/2017.
ACT 200
RELATING TO RESILIENCY
Directs the Public Utilities Commission to establish a microgrid services tariff to encourage and facilitate the development and use of energy resilient microgrids. Takes effect on 7/1/2018.