2011 Senate Bill 715 (Relating to the repeal of ethanol requirement for gasoline sold in Hawaii)

• Introduced by Sen. Mike Gabbard (D) on January 21, 2011, to repeal the 10 percent ethanol by volume requirement for gasoline sold in Hawaii for use in motor vehicles.
• Senate committees CPN - Commerce and Consumer Protection / ENE - Energy and Environment have scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 at 2:45 p.m. in conference room 225.

Finally, a Senate Bill That Will Repeal a Bad Law

Five years ago, Hawaii passed a law requiring that gasoline sold in the state must include 10 percent ethanol. The intent was “to provide energy independence from foreign oil, reduce statewide gasoline consumption, and establish industrial plants to produce ethanol locally.”

Fast forward to today and the intention of the law is shown to be a bust -- all of Hawaii’s ethanol comes from overseas and no ethanol plants have been built here. Because of this, Sen. Mike Gabbard has introduced a bill to repeal the 10 percent ethanol requirement for gasoline sold in Hawaii.

If the law is repealed, will Hawaii’s consumers actually see a reduction in the price of gasoline? And how many tax credits were issued with nothing to show but a reduction in revenue for the state?

To see the status of SB715, click here: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=715

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