Sierra Club: Lawmakers to Discuss Clean Transportation Bill

The Hawai‘i Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Lorraine Inouye, is considering HB1580, which sets ambitious clean transportation goals for the state. The hearing will be held on Monday, March 20, at 1:20 p.m. at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, room 225.

“This could be another hero moment for the Hawaiian Islands,” said Jeffrey Kim, a climate activist and active member of the Sierra Club. “If this bill passes, it means Hawaiʻi will be on track to become one of the most renewable states in the country. As we see more and more questionable approaches to climate policy on the federal level, Hawai‘i could serve as a beacon of hope for climate advocates in our state and beyond.”

Specifically, HB1580 would:

• Convene a clean energy ground transportation effort spearheaded by the Department of Transportation in collaboration with the state energy office,
• Establish interim goals and benchmarks for improving clean transportation infrastructure through 2025,
• Reduce ground transportation fossil fuel consumption by 5% every five years through 2045.

In addition to the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Blue Planet Foundation, Life of the Land and Citizens Climate Lobby support converting Hawaiʻi’s ground transportation to clean energy. Also submitting testimony in support of HB1580 is Hawaiian Electric Industries and the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

For more information on clean ground transportation, download Blue Planet Foundation’s frequently asked questions.