Talking Points

HB 197 Refrigerants

• This bill creates a program that would reduce emissions from refrigerants with high global warming potential.

• The majority of the gases used in refrigerants are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are hundreds to thousands of times more potent as greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide.

• If HFCs were well-contained and disposed of properly at the end of their useful life, there would be no concern.However, HFC refrigerants leak.For example, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that supermarkets in the U.S. leak an average of 25% of their refrigerants annually.

• Leakproof systems can be built, and there are natural alternatives to HFCs for cooling.

• The emissions reduction program created by this bill will focus on equipment responsible for significant volumes of emissions, such as large commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

 

HB 654 Energy Assessment

• This bill requires the State and its counties to use the Portfolio Manager tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the efficiency of their buildings and to determine greenhouse gas emissions.

• Commercial and residential buildings are responsible for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions globally.

• Portfolio Manager is a free, online, secure tool that is supported by the EPA.

• Portfolio Manager is being used by public and private organizations throughout the nation to assess the efficiency of buildings and improve their efficiency.

 

​HB 896 PV Panels at Schools

 

• Decrease energy costs at DOE schools

• Importance of shading on playgrounds

• Aid the state in its transition to clean energy

 

HB 949 Solar Energy Storage for Low Income

 

• Aid the state in its transition to clean energy

• This bill seeks solidify that commitment accessib population

• Without this programs, capital constrained households will be unable to switch to lower, cleaner sources of electricity.

• As solar energy is currently about one-half the cost of oil-fired electricity, this population would directly benefit from a program that helps them overcome financial challenges such as high electricity costs and inflation.

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SB 781 PV Permitting

 

• This bill requires the counties to use an online app, such as SolarAPP+, to process building permits for residential solar systems than can approve projects on the same day if the required information is submitted.

• Hawaii needs to transition as quickly as possible to a 100% clean, renewable energy future, but there is an average backlog of eight months to process building permits for residential solar systems in Hawaii.

• This bill creates the mechanism for the quick approval of residential solar projects that comply with the building code.

• SolarAPP+ saves the typical solar consumer more than $7,000 in red tape.

• SolarAPP+ is available at no cost to counties and other local jurisdictions.

 

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