Requesting The Hawaii State Energy Office To Conduct A Study To Determine The Extent To Which Owners Of Multiple Properties That Are Places Of Public Accommodation Within The State Aggregate Their Required Parking Spaces And Choose To Designate And Electrify Parking Spaces In A County That Is Not The Same County Where The Majority Of The Parking Spaces Are Located.
The bill reflects a broader responsibility to safeguard Hawaii's natural resources and support the sustainability of its transportation ecosystem. With ground transportation accounting for a significant portion of the state's energy emissions, SCR77 emphasizes electrification in order to provide equitable access to EV charging capabilities across different counties. This is particularly pertinent as the demand for electric vehicles rises, posing the pressing challenge of ensuring sufficient infrastructure is in place to support potential EV owners.
SCR77 requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a study regarding the parking space requirements for owners of multiple properties designated as places of public accommodation. The goal is to explore whether such property owners are aggregating their required parking spaces and designating electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in locations that may not be in the same county as where most of their required spaces are situated. This initiative aligns with the state's goal of encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and facilitate the transition towards a carbon-neutral transportation system by 2045.
Notably, a point of contention may arise due to the existing law that enables property owners to aggregate their required parking spaces in a single location. This practice can result in some counties being underserved, leading to concerns about inconsistent access to EV charging facilities. The requested study aims to examine these discrepancies while providing an opportunity for legislative proposals based on its findings, which could influence future policies and requirements regarding parking and electrification in public accommodation properties.