HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1509
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 3
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENERGY.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii leads the nation in the creation of pioneering models of energy and infrastructure financing to save taxpayers' money.  In 2013, the legislature established the green infrastructure loan program, which uses private investment dollars to pay for the upfront costs of energy infrastructure retrofits for both public and private purposes, which is paid back using the savings realized from the reduction in energy costs generated by the new energy-efficient infrastructure while also producing an additional net savings to the end user.

     By using energy-savings financing mechanisms such as the green infrastructure loan program to pay for a large portion of any renewable energy project, the University of Hawaii can reduce its electrical consumption at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers.  Furthermore, the use of energy-savings financing mechanisms such as the green infrastructure loan program to pay for the renewable energy portion of any deferred maintenance project can help the university reduce its deferred maintenance backlog and lower its electrical consumption at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers.  The legislature declares that this Act is a matter of statewide concern.

     The purpose of this Act is to maximize student tuition savings by establishing long-term commitments to reduce energy use at the University of Hawaii and by encouraging the use of innovative means of energy-savings financing to reduce taxpayer costs for capital improvement and energy efficiency projects.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     University of Hawaii; net-zero energy goal.  (a)  The University of Hawaii shall establish a collective goal of becoming net-zero with respect to energy use, producing as much energy as the system consumes across all campuses, by January 1, 2035.

     (b)  The University of Hawaii shall establish a benchmark for the amount and value of energy consumed during the 2014-2015 fiscal year, against which it shall measure its progress toward the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a).

     (c)  The University of Hawaii shall make improvements that advance the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a) a priority.

     (d)  The University of Hawaii shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of each regular session.  The annual report shall include the following information:

     (1)  Overall progress toward the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a);

     (2)  Plans and recommendations to advance the net-zero energy goal set forth in subsection (a)."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Energy

 

Description:

Requires UH to establish collective goal of becoming net-zero with respect to energy use by January 1, 2035.  (HB1509 CD1)

 

 

 

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