HB 852 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii State Energy Office as an agency within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with a Chief Energy Officer position requiring Senate confirmation.

• Transfers duties of the Energy Resources Coordinator and Renewable Energy Facilitator positions to the new Chief Energy Officer, consolidating energy programs under one agency.

• Chief Energy Officer shall oversee energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy resiliency programs; provide technical assistance to state agencies; and submit annual reports to the legislature on energy goals and progress.

• Appropriates $2,818,077 in general funds and $240,000 in trust funds for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021; authorizes 5 permanent and 22 temporary full-time equivalent positions.

• Reduces petroleum tax allocation to Energy Security Special Fund from 15 cents to 5 cents per barrel and expands fund usage to support clean transportation infrastructure, building energy efficiency loans, and zero emissions economy goals.