Bill Text: HI SCR171 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation Commission To Convene An Electric Vehicles Task Force To Study The Feasibility Of A Complete Transition To Electric Vehicles By The Year 2050.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-10 - Referred to TRS/EET. [SCR171 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SCR171-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	171
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission to CONVENe An ELECTRIC VEHICLES TASK FORCE TO STUDY the feasibility of A COMPLETE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY THE YEAR 2050.

 

 

     WHEREAS, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that retains heat that becomes trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere, thereby raising global temperatures, contributing to rapidly melting glacial ice and raising sea levels; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2018 was 407.4 parts per million; and

 

     WHEREAS, the last time that the atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts were at this level was more than three million years ago; and

 

     WHEREAS, cars with internal combustion engines burn fossil fuels, thereby emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounts for twenty-nine percent of total United States greenhouse gas emissions, making transportation the largest contributor of United States greenhouse gas emissions; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to media reports, in the year 2018, there were 906,237 vehicles and trailers registered on Oahu, which is a dramatic increase from just fifty years ago, where there were only 321,947 vehicles and trailers registered on Oahu; and

 

     WHEREAS, increased levels of carbon dioxide have contributed to global climate change; and

 

     WHEREAS, as Hawaii is uniquely threatened by global climate change, effects of global climate change include, but are not limited to, mass coral bleaching, eroding shorelines, and stronger hurricanes and storms; and

 

     WHEREAS, the cost of rebuilding and repairing after environmental catastrophes will run into the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars; and

 

     WHEREAS, in response to the 2018 flooding of Kauai and Oahu, the State appropriated $100 million and $25 million, respectively, for relief efforts; and

 

     WHEREAS, a zero-emission vehicle is a vehicle that emits no carbon dioxide from its onboard source of power; and

 

     WHEREAS, in recent years, zero-emission vehicles have been rising in popularity, as an alternative to fossil fuel-powered vehicles; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of California has enacted a Zero-Emission Vehicle Program, requiring auto manufacturers to offer for sale a select number of zero-emission cars, such as full battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles; and

 

     WHEREAS, zero-emission energy production is energy production that produces no carbon dioxide during its generation and dissemination to consumers; and

 

     WHEREAS, in recent years, various types of zero-emission energy production have been rising in popularity, such as wind and solar energy; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, in 2016, wind power generators accounted for eight percent of the total operating electric generating capacity in the nation; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii, wind power generation produced six percent of all electricity produced; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2017, solar power generation grew over forty-three percent to make up over 1.9 percent of all electricity generated in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the State of Hawaii, solar power generation produced 11.8 percent of all electricity produced; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission is requested to convene an electric vehicle task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include the following:

 

     (1)  The co-chairpersons of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, or the co-chairpersons' designees, who shall serve as the co-chairpersons of the task force;

 

     (2)  The Director of the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency, or the Director's designee;

 

     (3)  The Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, or the Director's designee;

 

     (4)  The President of the Senate, or the President's designee;

 

     (5)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee;

 

     (6)  The Director of the Hawaii State Energy Office, or the Director's designee;

 

     (7)  The Chairman of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., or the Chairman's designee; and

 

     (8)  The President of the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association, or the President's designee; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an initial meeting of the task force be convened no later than July 1, 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

 

     (1)  Perform a comparative study on the costs incurred for an average Hawaii family to switch from a fossil-fuel burning vehicle to a zero‑emission vehicle;

 

     (2)  Perform a comprehensive analysis on the current and future supply of zero‑emission vehicles in the State; and

 

     (3)  Determine the feasibility and cost impact of completing a transition from vehicles with internal combustion engines to zero‑emission vehicles by the year 2050; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than forty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be dissolved on June 30, 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii's congressional delegation; Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; Executive Directory of the United Nations Environment Programme; Governor; Director of the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency; Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control; President of the Senate; Speaker

of the House of Representatives; Director of the Hawaii State Energy Office; Chairman of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; and President of the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Hawaii Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Commission; electric vehicles task force; complete transition to electric vehicles by the year 2050