Bill > HB1257

This bill re-establishes a two-year Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program designed to support alternative energy research and development in the state. The program will allow the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to provide matching grants of up to 50% to local businesses that have received competitive research contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Naval Research. To be eligible, businesses must be at least 60% Hawaii resident-owned, be a for-profit entity organized under Hawaii law, have been operating in the state for at least one year, and commit to spending grant funds within Hawaii. The grants will support research in various alternative energy fields including geothermal, solar, wind, ocean power, bioenergy, and smart grid technologies. Additionally, the bill establishes an Alternative Energy Research and Development Revolving Fund to support these efforts, with the entire program set to sunset on June 30, 2027. This initiative aims to promote Hawaii's goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045 while simultaneously encouraging economic growth and diversification in the state's technology sector.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1257&year=2026