HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0261.001 2006-2008 -
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Harry Kim Marjorie Erway
Mayor Chair
;;e;.r'~ Barbara Bell
//~~tt~~ "~•oi'M~'~'~ Director
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION ~
25 Aupani Street, Room 210 • Hilo, Hawei i 96720-0252 n ~ ~
(SOS) 961$083 ~ Fax (SOS) 961-8086
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December 28, 2006
Harry Kim, Mayor _
County of Hawaii t-+
25 Aupuni Street ~ J -
Hilo, HI 96720 -
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION TO MODIFY THE SPECIAL FUEL TAX PROGRAM
Dear Mayor Kim,
The Environmental Management Commission unanimously passed a motion to support the enclosed
resolution in May, 2005. We wish to again state our support of the department in its attempt to go
forwazd in this endeavor.
The Resolution provides for a waiver of fuel tax on any alternative fuels containing 20% or Beater
biodiesel sold in the County of Hawai i. Under current state statute, the County's portion of a fuel tax on
biodiesel fuels sold in this county is $0.022/gallon, although at this time there are no alternative fuels
containing 20% or greater biodiesel commercially available in the County. We anticipate that within the
next two yeazs, altemative biodiesel fuels may be made available for sale in the County.
Biodiesel is made in various grades and the most commonly available commercial grade is B20 - a fuel
containing 20%biodiesel and 80% petrodiesel. Biodiesel is in great demand in this state for use in
ecologically sensitive areas such as marine environments and urban settings. We hope to follow the lead
of other counties in the state and encourage the local production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil, beef
tallow and fish oil. By utilizing waste streams from existing industries to make a valued by-product, we
enhance the profitability of those industries and reduce the need for imported fuels. Since there aze no
biodiesel fuels currently available on the Big Island in commercial grade or quantity, the waiver of the
County's portion of the fuel tax on biodiesel does not result in lost revenue to the County.
We ask for your support in this matter. Should you have any questions, please contact Barbara at 961-
8083.
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Marjorie Erway, Chair Barbaza Bell, Director
APPR D:
enclosure H KRn, May mm. No._ ~D~_ i
Ref. To:
Hawaii County is an equal opporfuniryproviderand employer. def. tlpte Jai`1 ~ ~ ZQ07
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