Climate Legislation
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.