Bill Text: HI SB3096 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Greenhouse Gases.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-05 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. [SB3096 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB3096-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3096 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GASES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Earth's climate has changed drastically over the past century, including global rises in temperature, shrinkages in glaciers, snow cover, and ice sheets, increases in ocean heat and acidity, and increases in extreme weather events such as floods and hurricanes. The legislature further finds that increased temperatures threaten the health of Hawaii's citizens, as heat-related deaths have risen nationally, and that changes in ocean heat and acidity harm Hawaii's fragile ocean ecosystems, including its coral reefs, which are natural treasures and major tourist attractions.
The legislature also finds that the overwhelming majority of scientists agree that humans cause climate change, including through production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. However, the United States has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement – a coordinated multi-nation effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. Therefore, it falls to states such as Hawaii to lead by example.
The legislature also finds that individuals can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by being more conscious of their own actions, which may include disconnecting from an electric grid that draws seventy-five per cent of its power from fossil fuels, and instead installing on-site renewable energy systems, energy efficiency systems, and energy storage systems. However, other parties believe that it is in the public interest for utility customers to stay connected to the electric grid; otherwise, the remaining customers will bear a larger share of fixed embedded costs. The legislature believes that individuals who choose to remain connected to an electric grid that uses fossil fuels should not be considered as serving the public interest more than individuals who choose to disconnect from the electric grid and thereby reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to encourage people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of on-site renewable energy systems, energy efficiency systems, and energy storage systems and thereby not promote a worldview where fossil fuel users are considered to be more in the public interest than non-fossil fuel users.
SECTION 2. Chapter 342B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§342B- Personal responsibility, greenhouse gases. The State shall encourage people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of on-site renewable energy systems, energy efficiency systems, and energy storage systems."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Personal Responsibility; Energy
Description:
Requires the State to encourage people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of on-site renewable energy systems, energy efficiency systems, and energy storage systems. (SD1)
The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
