Here’s an update on the 2020 legislative issues that the Tesla Hawaii Club secretary, Noreen Reimel, put together.  She is also in charge of policy at Hawaii Energy:

Yesterday was the deadline for the first decking, when bills pass through the body they started in (either the House or the Senate). There are a small handful of bills that will be voted on early next week. The next step is for the bills to crossover to the other body and go through their committees (House bills now go in front of Senate committees and vice versa)

  • EV bills that passed:
    • HB2462 EV Income Tax Credit – Establishes an income tax credit of up to $2,500 per new EV that costs up to $50,000. Sunsets on 12/31/2028.
    • HB2699 State Clean Transportation Goals – Establishes clean ground transportation goals for state agencies on a staggered basis until achieving a 100 per cent light-duty motor vehicle clean fleet by 12/31/2035, and for all light-duty motor vehicles in the State by 12/31/2045. 
    • SB3111 EV Surcharge – Defines “alternative fuel vehicle” for the purpose of annual vehicle registration surcharge fees. Effective 7/1/2050. 
  • EV bills that are still alive:
    • SB996 Rental fleets – Requires rental motor vehicle lessors to incorporate zero-emission vehicles into the lessors’ fleets. Establishes a Hawaii zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure special fund and grant program to promote development of zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
  • EV bills that died:
    • HB1052/SB1278 EV Benefit Extension and Parking at Airports Limits electric vehicles’ (EV) parking fee exemption to four hours. Excludes airports from the EV parking fee exemption. Extends sunset date of Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, until EVs are 10 percent of registered vehicles in the State.
    • HB1845 EV Charging Station Rebate Program – Appropriates funds for the EV charging system rebate program
    • SB3022/HB2493 Carbon Emissions Reduction Rebate – Establishes a clean vehicle special fund to incentivize the purchase of vehicles that produce less carbon emissions by providing a rebate. Creates a graduated gasoline-powered vehicle tax to be paid by purchasers of a passenger car or pickup truck that is powered solely by gasoline and obtains only a certain number of miles per gallon.
    • HB2583 State Fleet – Requires that one hundred percent of a state agency’s light-duty motor vehicle purchases or leases be restricted to non fossil fuel powered vehicles
    • SB2628/HB2006 State EV Rentals – Requires state and county employees to rent electric vehicles when on official government business and requires the State procurement office to execute future contracts consistent with specified terms.
    • SB2457 State EV Charging – Requires the department of transportation to install two hundred fast charge electric vehicle charge systems by December 31, 2021
    • SB2979 State EV Purchases and Charging – Beginning January 1, 2022, requires that one hundred per cent of a state agency’s light-duty motor vehicle purchases or leases be restricted to non fossil fuel powered vehicles
    • SB3060 Autonomous Vehicles – Requires the director of transportation to establish the autonomous vehicles testing program.

A bit disappointing, but I’m happy that at least the Income Tax Credit  passed,  and the goals and dates are established.

Next year we’ll watch earlier and send in more testimony. KauaiEV now has a policy director and the Hawaii EVA has a Hawaii EV Policy Group (please consider becoming a member).

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