HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 137 2020/09/15 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: September 15, 2020 Re: Comm. No. 1063/Res. No. 725-20
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 9:03 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 725-20, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 725-20, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako, via Communication No. 1063
dated August 27, 2020, authorizes the Office of the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the University
of Hawai`i's Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) for the Mass Transit Agency Hydrogen Bus
Project.
This resolution establishes a two-year agreement to operate and maintain three zero-emission buses in
Kailua-Kona.
A motion to move Resolution No. 725-20 to Council with a positive recommendation was made by
Council Member Karen Eoff, and seconded by Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
Mass Transit Agency Administrator Brenda Carreira addressed Your Committee on the HNEI
project, noting the two hydrogen buses donated from Hawai`i National Volcanoes National Park
will need battery and fuel cell upgrades before operable, and once completed, will provide Mass Transit
(MT) with three hydrogen buses best suitable for Kailua-Kona routes since the hydrogen fueling facility
is housed at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority. She also stressed the need for
hydrogen infrastructure to maintain buses, stating MT mechanics need to be retrained to include
hydrogen-powered maintenance and repair. Currently, there are two mechanics being trained.
Deputy Director of Research and Development Riley Saito confirmed that in December 2017, all four
county mayors pledged to transition all of their fleet vehicles to 100 percent renewable power by 2035.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 725-20, and
recommends its adoption.
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Al ES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
EOFF X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X /
KIERKIEWICZ X � Arc
LEE LOY X r�vN- 111
POINDEXTER x MAILE ME O EIROS DA CHAIR
RICHARDS X FC REPORT NO.: 137
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: OCT 0 7 2020