Bill > SB233

This bill addresses Hawaii's climate resilience and clean energy initiatives in response to increasing environmental challenges, particularly in the wake of the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. The legislation requires the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Program to develop a plan to increase jobs that strengthen emergency preparedness and climate resilience from 2026 to 2036, with a specific focus on helping workers in carbon-intensive industries transition to new roles. The bill amends existing statutes to authorize the Energy Security Special Fund to support workforce development and training programs that advance climate resilience goals, prioritizing jobs that meet the state's self-sufficiency standard. These programs will target areas such as disaster readiness, clean energy generation, carbon emissions reduction, sustainable agriculture, and local food production. The bill is motivated by significant climate change impacts, including projections of sea level rise that could expose thousands of structures and people to chronic flooding, potentially resulting in $19 billion in economic losses. By expanding job opportunities in climate-resilient sectors, the legislation aims to both mitigate economic disruption and support Hawaii's broader goals of transitioning to a clean energy economy, including generating 100% of electricity from renewable resources by 2045 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=233&year=2025