Bill Text: HI SB1309 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Electric Vehicles.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-12 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB1309 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-SB1309-Introduced.html
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1309 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 human-induced global climate crisis requires
thoughtful but bold response on multiple fronts to make Hawaii communities
resilient to the impacts of storms, floods, fire, and sea-level rise that
threaten the very survivability of these fragile islands. Hawaii has historically played a critical
leadership role in the areas of labor, justice, equity, and the environment. The legislature passed the nation's first one
hundred per cent renewable electricity requirement, adopted a statewide carbon
neutrality goal, and was the first state to commit to the goals of the 2015
Paris Climate Agreement. Hawaii's one
hundred per cent renewable electricity goal has been emulated by other states
and territories, demonstrating that Hawaii's actions on climate change can
influence broader actions beyond the islands' shores.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii
is nearly one hundred per cent dependent on imported petroleum for its ground
transportation needs. Hawaii residents,
businesses, and visitors spent over $1,700,000,000 on gasoline in 2019, and the
combustion of that fuel released over ten billion pounds of climate-changing
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While
carbon pollution from Hawaii's electricity sector has decreased over the past
decade, carbon pollution from Hawaii's ground transportation sector has
increased ten per cent. Existing policy
measures have not been effective in substantially reducing carbon pollution
from Hawaii's ground transportation sector.
Electric vehicles
play an integral role in Hawaii's clean energy future. Electric vehicles are much less expensive to
power per mile than their gasoline counterparts. By using stored electrical energy, electric
vehicles can take advantage of intermittent solar, wind, and other clean energy
resources. With the continued growth of
an intelligent electricity grid, electric vehicles become an essential
component to electricity load and clean energy resource balancing. They also provide clean mobility solutions for
Hawaii residents and visitors.
While there is growing
interest in electric vehicles among Hawaii residents, the lack of adequate
vehicle charging infrastructure presents a major barrier to adoption. The International Energy Agency has found that
"the availability of chargers emerged as one of the key factors for
contributing to the market penetration of electric vehicles." Unlike gasoline car owners, charging behavior
for electric vehicle owners indicates that more than eighty per cent of
electric vehicle drivers charge their cars at home or work. In addition, a large share of the Hawaii
population lives in high density, multi-family dwellings. The vast majority of parking facilities are
not currently being built to accommodate electric vehicle chargers.
The purpose of this Act is to establish
a market-based electric vehicle infrastructure incentive program consisting of
one-time taxes on the purchase of high-end gasoline-powered vehicles for
purposes of funding the electric vehicle charging system rebate program
established under sections 269-72 and 269‑73, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The program is to be self-financing and is not
intended to increase expenditures from or reduce revenues into the general fund.
SECTION 2. Chapter 237, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§237- Electric vehicle infrastructure incentive program. (a)
In addition to the tax levied in section 237‑13(2)(A),
there shall be an additional tax levied on the gross proceeds of sales of
passenger cars and pickup trucks as follows: Upon every sale of a passenger car or pickup
truck that is not a zero emission vehicle, there shall be levied a tax of ten
per cent of the gross proceeds of sales on the value of purchases over $60,000.
(b)
All moneys received from any taxes assessed
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be collected and deposited into the energy
security special fund established under section 201-12.8
for purposes of providing rebates for the electric vehicle charging system
rebate program established under sections 269-72 and
269-73.
(c) For the purposes of this section:
"Passenger car" has the
same meaning as defined in section 286-2.
"Pickup truck" has the same
meaning as defined in section 291-14(e).
"Electric vehicle" has the
same meaning as defined in section 291-71.
"MSRP" means the published manufacturer's suggested retail price as set by a vehicle's manufacturer at the time of sale."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the energy security special fund the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for deposit into the public utilities commission special fund.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the public utilities commission special fund the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the administration of the electric vehicle charging system rebate program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Electric Vehicles; Charging; Infrastructure Incentive Program; Tax; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes an electric vehicle incentive program by imposing a one-time tax on the purchase of vehicles that are not zero emission vehicles. Makes an appropriation for administrative costs of the electric vehicle charging system rebate program.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.