HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green signed several environmental bills into law in a push to both combat climate change and guide the state toward its goal of reaching zero-emission, 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
Green opened the signing ceremony on Wednesday by acknowledging how far Hawai‘i has to go to reach its energy goals. About four-fifths of the state’s electricity consumption is via petroleum — the highest share for any state — and only about 29 percent of Hawai‘i’s energy generation comes from renewables.
“It’s a process,” Green said. “It’s a long process to move toward the many goals that we have on this huge issue, which is our clean energy future.”
One of the bills signed, Senate Bill 1024, establishes a statewide initiative for cleaner transportation, with a long-term goal of eliminating emissions across ground, interisland and trans-pacific transport. The bill notes that as a population-dense island chain, Hawai‘i is well-suited for both electric ground transportation and electric ferries, adding that fair year-round weather allows the state to more strongly encourage pedestrian and bicycle transport.
SB 1024 also creates multiple working groups within the state Department of Transportation to coordinate with both state and private groups in advancing these goals.
“Transportation produces the majority of Hawai‘i’s emissions,” said state Sen. Chris Lee (D-District 25), chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and author of the bill.
“This bill will move Hawai‘i toward zero emissions from land, sea and air transportation, catalyzing investment in new local jobs, reducing future transportation costs, and building a cleaner Hawai‘i economy for our next generation.”
Green also signed into law Senate Bill 691, which allows Hawai‘i’s chief energy officer to enforce minimum efficiency standards for an expanded list of products, including air purifiers, toilets and residential ventilating fans.
“We were the first in the nation to set a 100 percent renewable electricity and a carbon-negative future by 2045,” said Melissa Miyashiro, executive director at environmental nonprofit Blue Planet Foundation.
“Yet, the role of energy efficiency is often overlooked in discussions about climate change, despite being one of the most powerful tools in our climate action toolkit.”
Miyashiro continued, suggesting that enforcing more energy- and water-efficient standards would also benefit consumers, allowing them to use fewer utilities.
“By reducing electricity and water waste from these products, Hawai‘i residents and businesses are expected to save a total of $175 million in utility bills over the next 25 years,” she added.
“We’ll also avoid 200,000 tons of carbon emissions thanks to fossil fuel plants running less, and we’ll also conserve 7 billion gallons of fresh water for the future of our islands.”
Additional bills signed by Green include:
• House Bill 192, banning the sale of fluorescent lights starting January 1, 2025. Fluorescent lights contain mercury, a toxic pollutant, and are up to 80 percent less energy efficient than modern LED lights. Exemptions are made for photocopying, printing, film projection and several ultraviolet light emission purposes.
• Senate Bill 1173, establishing a $500 fine for individuals whose diesel- or gas-powered vehicle discharges clearly visible smoke, soot or other exhaust emissions onto another person or motor vehicle.
• Senate Bill 1534, replacing state motor fuel taxes with a mileage-based road usage charge beginning on July 1, 2025. The bill also eliminates the $50 annual state vehicle registration surcharge for electric vehicles.
“These bills will provide direct savings to Hawai‘i’s families and businesses by lowering energy costs, will benefit the electric grid by reducing demand, will reduce toxic waste in the environment, and will avoid hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon emissions,” said state Rep. Nicole Lowen (D-District 7), chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.
“Measures like these are the true steps forward where we put one foot in front of the other and start making real change in the real world.”
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Jackson Healy, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-4966 or jhealy@thegardenisland.com.
Government real estate along with vehicles got to lead the way.
All this spending and effort on things that do not matter. Despite all the hype we have no control over the climate which has been in a state of flux for billions of years. Leave it to the outsized ego of politicians and so-called “environmentalists” to think that in the finitely vast universe they can control its processes…ridiculous.
As you drive on our pathetic roads or visit state and county parks/facilities take a look at the condition of these things. It will NEVER get any better as long as these gas-bags keep spending our hard earned money they forcibly extract from us, on the wasteful and fruitless climate change (and other social) programs that do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to improve the lives of us mundanes.
RSW