Bill Text: HI SB996 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Zero-emission Vehicles.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB996 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB996-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	996
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment of Hawaii.  The potential adverse impacts of climate change include the exacerbation of air-quality problems; a reduction in the quality and supply of water; a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of coastal businesses and residences; damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment; and an increase in the incidences of infectious diseases, asthma, and other human health-related problems.

     The legislature further finds that the State has committed to both eliminating imported fuels from both the electricity and ground transportation sectors and abiding by the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal to limit the amount of global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

     The legislature acknowledges that meeting the State's clean energy goals and commitments necessitates the rapid transition to vehicles that utilize local, renewable energy sources.

     The legislature further acknowledges that rental motor vehicles represent the largest passenger vehicle fleet in Hawaii and are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions.

     The legislature finds that incorporating large numbers of zero-emission vehicles into rental motor vehicle fleets would: significantly reduce carbon emissions; increase the number of zero-emission vehicles entering the secondary market, making them more affordable to more Hawaii residents; and demonstrate to all who visit the State that Hawaii is a leader in clean energy and sustainable transportation.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii to expedite the incorporation of zero-emission vehicles into their fleets; and

     (2)  Create a Hawaii zero-emission vehicle infrastructure special fund and a grant program to promote the development of the refueling infrastructure necessary to enable the large-scale adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 437D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§437D-A  Zero-emission vehicles.  (a)  All lessors of rental motor vehicles in the State shall incorporate zero-emission light duty passenger vehicles into their rental motor vehicle fleets according to the following schedule:

     (1)  No less than ten per cent by July 1, 2025;

     (2)  No less than twenty-five per cent by July 1, 2030;

     (3)  No less than fifty per cent by July 1, 2035;

     (4)  No less than seventy-five per cent by July 1, 2040; and

     (5)  One hundred per cent by July 1, 2050.

     (b)  To certify compliance with this section, beginning in 2021, each rental motor vehicle lessor in the State shall prepare and deliver a report to the director annually by December 1 that includes the make, model, license plate number, and fuel type of each rental motor vehicle in the lessor's fleet.

     (c)  Lessors with fewer than the required number of zero-emission vehicles in their rental motor vehicle fleet as set forth in subsection (a) shall pay a fine of $1,000 per month for each vehicle below the required amount.

     (d)  The requirements set forth in this section shall apply only to lessors owning and operating more than two hundred light duty passenger vehicles as rental motor vehicles statewide.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Battery electric vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion exclusively from a battery that can be recharged from an external source of energy.

     "Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion from electricity generated by passing hydrogen through a fuel cell.

     "Light duty passenger vehicle" means a vehicle below eight thousand five hundred pounds gross weight.

     "Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion from a battery, but which also has an internal combustion engine that may be used to either propel the vehicle directly, or to produce electricity to recharge the battery.

     "Rental motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in section 251-1, notwithstanding section 437D-3.

     "Zero-emission vehicle" means a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle; provided that:

     (1)  A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with sixteen or more kilowatt hours of battery storage qualifies as a full zero-emission vehicle; and

     (2)  A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than sixteen kilowatt hours of battery storage qualifies as a partial zero-emission vehicle.

The number of kilowatt hours of battery storage is to be calculated by dividing the total kilowatt hours of energy storage in the battery by sixteen, rounded to the nearest tenth.

     §437D-B  Hawaii zero-emission vehicle infrastructure special fund; grant program; established.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii zero-emission vehicle infrastructure special fund to be administered by the department of transportation.  All moneys received from any fines imposed under section 437D-A shall be deposited into the special fund and shall be used to develop, administer, and market the Hawaii zero-emission vehicle infrastructure grant program.

     (b)  There is established in the department of transportation the Hawaii zero-emission vehicle infrastructure grant program to promote the development of fueling infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles throughout the State and to facilitate and demonstrate financially sustainable business models for the infrastructure.

     (c)  Any public agency or private organization shall be eligible to apply to the department of transportation for use of grant program funds on a competitive basis; provided that the department shall give priority to proposals that facilitate the large-scale integration of zero-emission vehicles into rental motor vehicle fleets.

     (d)  All costs related to the development of zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure are eligible for funding, including planning, engineering, construction, and the purchase and installation of equipment; provided that costs associated with ongoing operations of fueling infrastructure shall not be eligible.

     (e)  Any recipient of funding shall be required to match at least twenty per cent of the grant program moneys received.

     (f)  For the purposes of the section, "zero-emission vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in section 437D-A."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

 

Report Title:

Zero-emission Vehicles; Rental Cars; Inventory; Fleet

 

Description:

Requires rental motor vehicle lessors to incorporate zero-emission vehicles into their fleets.  Creates a Hawaii zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure special fund and grant program to promote development of zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.  Effective 1/1/2020.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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