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F G <br />r <br />S <br />County Sustainability Coordinators Network <br />Legislative Priorities , <br />The County Sustainability Coordinators Network (CSCN) is a coalition of energy and <br />sustainability offices and staff across the four counties of the State of Hawaii. CSCN <br />serves to increase the collaborative efforts of the four counties in order to share lessons <br />learned and establish best practice strategies in the energy, climate change, and <br />sustainability fields to achieve both individual and state-wide goals. CSCN considers the <br />below measures joint priorities from last legislative session, as well as additional <br />priorities for future development -to be critical drivers of sustainability, resilience, and <br />equitable economic recovery. <br />Legislative Priorities from the 2020 Session: <br />CSCN-1: Clean Energy Financing <br />2020 Measure: H144 l/ This measure seeks to create a clean energy and energy <br />efficiency revolving loan fund under the administration of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure <br />Authority (HGIA). <br />Particularly given the current economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; as <br />well as the existing economic inequalities it exposed, there is a need for new approaches <br />to flexible financing that ensures access to low-cost renewable energy options and <br />affordable monthly energy bills for businesses and families currently underserved by <br />existing market-based' solutions. The creation of a clean energy and energy efficiency <br />revolving loan will give HGIA the authority to attract and leverage federal, private, and <br />other capital in a sustainable manner, particularly for.green infrastructure investments in <br />rural areas across the state. HGIA has proven itself an effective implementer of loan funds <br />through the recent redevelopment and successful deployment of the Green Energy <br />Market Securitization (GEMS) loan program. GEMS has provided low-interest loans to <br />low- and moderate -income energy customers, created over 1,000 clean energy jobs, and <br />reduced barriers to renewable, energy for renters—and will not be able to continue once <br />its original bond is exhausted. No state funds are required under this act—this is simply <br />the authorization for a fund to be developed to tap federal and private funding. A clean <br />energy and energy efficiency revolving loan fund that provides affordable energy <br />options for all ratepayers would contribute to reaching the State's clean energy <br />goals, kick-start Hawal'i's economy, and lower the cost of living for residents. <br />CSCN-2: Electric Vehicle Readiness <br />