There is established, within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, a Hawaii renewable hydrogen program to manage the State's transition to a renewable hydrogen economy. The program shall design, implement, and administer activities that include:

1. (1) Strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, and deployment of renewable hydrogen technologies;
2. (2) Engineering and economic evaluations of Hawaii's potential for renewable hydrogen use and near-term project opportunities for the State's renewable energy resources;
3. (3) Electric grid reliability and security projects that will enable the integration of a substantial increase of electricity from renewable energy resources on the island of Hawaii;
4. (4) Hydrogen demonstration projects, including infrastructure for the production, storage, and refueling of hydrogen vehicles;
5. (5) A statewide hydrogen economy public education and outreach plan focusing on the island of Hawaii, to be developed in coordination with Hawaii's public education institutions;
6. (6) Promotion of Hawaii's renewable hydrogen resources to potential partners and investors;

7. (7) A plan, for implementation during the years 2007 to 2010, to more fully deploy hydrogen technologies and infrastructure capable of supporting the island of Hawaii's energy needs, including:

   1. (A) Expanded installation of hydrogen production facilities;
   2. (B) Development of integrated energy systems, including hydrogen vehicles;
   3. (C) Construction of additional hydrogen refueling stations; and
   4. (D) Promotion of building design and construction that fully incorporates clean energy assets, including reliance on hydrogen-fueled energy generation;
8. (8) A plan, for implementation during the years 2010 to 2020, to transition the island of Hawaii to a hydrogen-fueled economy and to extend the application of the plan throughout the State; and

9. (9) Evaluation of policy recommendations to:

   1. (A) Encourage the adoption of hydrogen-fueled vehicles;
   2. (B) Continually fund the hydrogen investment capital special fund; and
   3. (C) Support investment in hydrogen infrastructure, including production, storage, and dispensing facilities.

[L 2006, c 240, §6]

Cross References

Hydrogen investment special fund, see §206M-63.