Bill Text: HI SB2952 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Environment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-24 - Referred to AEN/EET, CPN. [SB2952 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB2952-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2952 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the environment.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 2021, Hawaii was the first state to declare a climate emergency. The State has a target to sequester all the atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State before 2045.
One way to help the State achieve its carbon-negative target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most potent greenhouse gases is methane, which can be found in natural gas. Methane produces approximately eighty-five times the atmospheric warming power of carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. The legislature further finds that over the past two years, various city councils in California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, and Washington have prohibited the installation of natural gas burning appliances such as water heaters, refrigerators, stoves, ranges, dishwashers, clothes dryers, air conditioners, decorative fireplaces, and other similar devices in new construction within their cities.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the installation of natural gas-burning appliances in new construction within the State.
SECTION 2. Section 196-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§196-5
Gas appliances [with pilot light prohibited]; exemptions. (a) No
[new residential type] gas appliance that is equipped with a pilot light
shall be sold or installed in new construction within the State after [June
30, 1980. Gas appliances sold after June
30, 1980, shall be equipped with an intermittent ignition system or other
ignition devices in lieu of gas pilot lights.] December 31, 2023.
(b) Beginning ninety days after [May 30, 1978,]
June 30, 2022, the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy
office or its successor entity shall notify, in writing, all retail sellers of
gas appliances doing business in the State of the provisions of this section.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not
apply [to any hot water heaters with pilot lights or] to any gas
appliance [which] that can be conclusively demonstrated by the
equipment manufacturer, to the satisfaction of the chief energy officer of the
Hawaii state energy office or its successor entity, that the [gas pilot
device in the] appliance[:
(1) Has a substantial lower life cycle cost
than an electric ignition or other alternate ignition system;
(2) Is more energy efficient than available alternatives;
or
(3) Is] is necessary to safeguard
public health and safety.
(d) [The provisions of this section shall not
apply to people living in areas that are served with unreliable electric
service or where it is not available.
(e)] As used in this section[:],
[(1) "Gas] "gas appliance"
includes any new residential type heater, refrigerator, stove, range,
dishwasher, dryer, air conditioner, decorative fireplace, or other similar
devices[;].
[(2) "Intermittent ignition device"
means an ignition device which is activated only when the gas appliance is in
operation; and
(3) "Pilot light" means any gas
operated device that remains continually operated or lighted in order to ignite
a gas appliance to normal operation.]"
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Natural Gas Appliances; New Construction; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits the sale or installation of natural gas-burning appliances such as water heaters, refrigerators, stoves, ranges, dishwashers, clothes dryers, air conditioners, decorative fireplaces, and other similar devices in new construction within the State.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
