SB 233: RELATING TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to climate resilience.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that climate resilience is essential in preventing and responding to natural emergencies.  On August 8, 2023, wildfires swept across Maui and killed at least one hundred two people, making it one of the nation's deadliest natural disasters.  The spread of the fires has been attributed to climate change conditions, such as unusually dry landscapes and the confluence of a strong high-pressure system to the north and Hurricane Dora to the south.  The wildfires destroyed over two thousand two hundred structures, including numerous residential buildings, historic landmarks, and school facilities.  In September 2023, a report from the United States Department of Commerce estimated the total economic damage of the wildfires to be roughly $5.5 billion.

     The legislature further finds that climate change is occurring as a result of human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide.  Continued burning of fossil fuels can cause irreparable harm to the State and the planet.  Thirty-four per cent of Hawaii's coastlines are vulnerable to intensifying coastal hazards resulting from accelerating sea level rise, according to a study performed by researchers at the university of Hawaii.

     The legislature additionally finds that according to a report produced by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission, global sea levels could rise more than three feet by 2100, with more recent projections showing this occurring as early as 2060.  The report also found that over the next thirty to seventy years, approximately six thousand five hundred structures, thirty-eight miles of coastal roads, five hundred fifty cultural sites, and nineteen thousand eight hundred people statewide will be exposed to chronic flooding, resulting in an estimated $19 billion in economic loss.

     The legislature also finds that in response to the growing threat of climate change and natural disasters, the State has set standards and launched initiatives to expand sustainable and efficient energy reliance, including setting a statewide benchmark of generating one hundred per cent of the State's electricity through renewable resources by 2045 and establishing a goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least fifty per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.  Meeting these initiatives will require increased employment in climate resilience, clean energy, and emergency preparedness positions for Hawaii's workforce.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii clean energy initiative program to design and implement a plan to increase jobs that strengthen emergency preparedness and climate resilience; and

     (2)  Authorize the use of the energy security special fund to advance the State's goals of strengthening emergency preparedness and climate mitigation.

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "[[]§196-10.5[]]  Hawaii clean energy initiative program.  (a)  There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, a Hawaii clean energy initiative program to manage the State's transition to a clean energy economy.  The clean energy program shall design, implement, and administer activities that include:

     (1)  Strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, deployment, and permitting of clean and renewable technologies;

     (2)  Engineering and economic evaluations of Hawaii's potential for near-term project opportunities for the State's renewable energy resources;

     (3)  Electric grid reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a substantial increase of electricity from renewable-energy resources;

     (4)  A statewide clean energy public education and outreach plan to be developed in coordination with Hawaii's institutions of public education;

     (5)  Promotion of Hawaii's clean and renewable resources to potential partners and investors;

     (6)  A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to transition the State to a clean energy economy; [and]

     (7)  A plan, to be implemented from 2011 to 2030, to assist each county in transitioning to a clean energy economy[.]; and

     (8)  A plan, to be implemented from 2026 to 2036, to increase jobs that strengthen emergency preparedness and climate resilience, especially those jobs that meet or exceed the self-sufficiency standard established by the department of business, economic development, and tourism pursuant to section 201-3(a)(5); provided that the plan shall include strategies for expanding workforce development and training programs that assist workers employed in carbon-heavy jobs in obtaining positions that strengthen emergency preparedness, climate resilience, and disaster readiness and that provide an equivalent level of financial security."

     SECTION 3.  Section 201-12.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Subject to legislative appropriation, moneys from the fund may be expended by the Hawaii state energy office for the following purposes and used for no other purposes, except for those set forth in this section:

     (1)  To support the Hawaii clean energy initiative program and projects that promote and advance dependable and affordable energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and greater energy security and resiliency for the State and public facilities;

     (2)  To fund, to the extent possible, the climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force;

     (3)  To support achieving the zero emissions clean economy target set forth in section 225P-5;

     (4)  To fund projects and incentives to promote the adoption of clean transportation technologies, develop clean vehicle charging infrastructure, and upgrade infrastructure to support the development of clean vehicle charging infrastructure; [and]

     (5)  To fund, to the extent possible, the duties of the state building code council in section 107-24, as they relate to the development of energy conservation codes[.]; and

     (6)  To fund, to the extent possible, workforce development and training programs that advance the State's goals of strengthening emergency preparedness and climate resilience, including jobs that improve disaster readiness, increase clean energy generation, reduce carbon emissions, expand sustainable agriculture and local food production programs, and advance the State's transition to a clean energy economy; provided that priority shall be given to jobs that meet or exceed the self-sufficiency standard established by the department of business, economic development, and tourism pursuant to section 201-3(a)(5)."

     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, 2025.

Report Title:

Climate Resilience; Emergency Preparedness; Workforce Development; Energy Security Special Fund

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Program to design and implement a plan to increase jobs that strengthen emergency preparedness and climate resilience.  Authorizes the use of the Energy Security Special Fund to advance the State's goals of strengthening emergency preparedness and climate mitigation.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 577

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 233

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 233 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Program to design and implement a plan to increase jobs that strengthen emergency preparedness and climate resilience; and

     (2)  Authorize the use of the Energy Security Special Fund to advance the State's goals of strengthening emergency preparedness and climate mitigation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, 350Hawaii.org, and Coalition Earth.

     Your Committee finds that, in response to the growing threat of natural disasters caused by climate change, the State has set renewable energy standards and launched carbon sequestration initiatives to strengthen the sustainability and resiliency of Hawaii.  Your Committee notes that meeting these energy standards and goals will require increased employment in the climate resilience, clean energy, and emergency preparedness sectors.  According to testimony received by your Committee, the Hawaii State Energy Office, the governmental agency that supports the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Program, administers the Clean Energy Sector Partnership, a program established in 2003 to facilitate the development of workforce education and training programs, pre-job experience, and job placement in the energy sector.  This measure provides another resource for the State to develop workforce initiatives in Hawaii's energy and other key sectors as it transitions to a clean energy economy.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 233 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,