Support two clean energy bills before Thursday, March 28th

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We are amplifying this action alert sent from our clean energy partner Blue Planet Foundation. Two clean energy bills are getting a hearing this Thursday: Your support matters now more than ever to getting these bills to the finish line. See below for instructions and sample testimony for both measures. 

Please submit testimony for these bills: 

HB 556: Appliance Efficiency Standards

This measure will save Hawaii residents $537 million and 34 billion gallons of water, and prevent the emissions of 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 15 years. These standards are already in place in California and other states, and it would be easy to adopt them in Hawaii. Read the bill here. 


SB 1000: Electric Vehicle Ready Buildings

One of the biggest barriers standing between consumers choosing electric vehicles over fossil fuel vehicles is a lack of adequate charging options in the state. This measure will ensure that at least 20% of parking stalls in newly constructed commercial and multi-family residential buildings in Hawaii are ready for electric vehicle (EV) charging. Read the bill here. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR HB 556: APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS

When: Please submit testimony BEFORE 9:30AM, WEDNESDAY, 3/27. 

How: 

  • Send an email to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health: CPHtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. 

  • In subject and body of email, be sure to state you are testifying in support of House Bill 556, "Relating to Energy Efficiency."

  • Explain the reasons for your support. See sample testimony below, and check out our fact sheet for more ideas. 

  • Sign your email with your full name. Include your city, state, and zip code. 

  • See sample text for testimony below. Feel free to copy and paste into your message, and to modify as you see best. 

  • You can also submit testimony directly on the Hawaii State Capitol website, but you'll need to create an account first. 

  • Share with friends!

Sample testimony: 

TO: CPHtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
SUBJECT: Support for HB 556, "Relating to Energy Efficiency," March 28, 2019, 9:30AM hearing

Aloha Chair Baker, Vice Chair Chang, and members of the Committee,

I am testifying in support of House Bill 556, "Relating to Energy Efficiency."

This is an important bill that protects Hawaii consumers from energy wasting appliances that drive up our already high utility bills. I support Hawaii adopting Appliance Efficiency Standards as it will save Hawaii residents $537 million and 34 billion gallons of water, and prevent the emissions of 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide over 15 years.

Products and technologies meeting these standards are readily available today from multiple manufacturers. Most of them have no incremental cost, meaning they do not cost more than inefficient models, and consumers will start saving right away.

These standards are already in place in California and other states, and it would be easy to adopt them here.

In light of these facts, I support the passage of House Bill 556.

Thank you for considering my testimony.

[Sign your full name, and list your city, state and zip code] 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SB 1000: ELECTRIC VEHICLE READY BUILDINGS

When: Please submit testimony BEFORE 2:00PM, WEDNESDAY, 3/27. 

How: 

  • Send an email to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce: CPCtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. 

  • In subject and body of email, be sure to state you are testifying in support of Senate Bill 1000, "Relating to Electric Vehicles."

  • Explain the reasons for your support. See sample testimony below.

  • Sign your email with your full name. Include your city, state, and zip code. 

  • See sample text for testimony below. Feel free to copy and paste into your message, and to modify as you see best. 

  • You can also submit testimony directly on the Hawaii State Capitol website, but you'll need to create an account first. 

  • Share with friends!

Sample testimony: 

TO: CPCtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
SUBJECT: Support for SB 1000, "Relating to Electric Vehicles," March 28, 2019, 2:00 PM hearing

Aloha Chair Takumi, Vice Chair Ichiyama, and members of the Committee,

I support SB 1000 to ensure that at least 20% of parking stalls in newly constructed commercial and multi-family residential buildings in Hawaii are ready for electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Buildings would not be required to install the actual charging equipment. Instead, they merely need to incorporate, at the construction phase, the wiring and conduit necessary for later installation of an EV charger. Installing that wiring and conduit post-construction is up to 91% more expensive for residents and tenants wishing to install an EV charger.

One of the biggest barriers standing between consumers choosing electric vehicles over fossil fuel vehicles is a lack of adequate charging options in the state. This is especially true for the many Hawaii residents that live in apartments and condos, who don’t currently have the luxury of charging an EV at home or at work.

Please pass SB 1000 to expand access to EV charging options. Thank you for considering my testimony.

[Sign your full name, and list your city, state and zip code]