Daily Archives: March 10, 2008

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 2357, House Draft 1

Agriculture; Important Agricultural Lands

March 4, 2008

 

I rise in support.

 

The purpose of this bill is to provide incentives to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands (IALs).  Specifically, this bill, among other things:

 

1.  Excludes from gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income, rental income, up to an unspecified maximum amount, derived from agricultural leases on lands designated as important agricultural lands (IALs) under certain conditions;

 

2.  Exempts rental income, up to an unspecified maximum amount, derived from agricultural leases on lands designated as IALs from the general excise tax;

 

3.  Allows landowners to develop, construct, and maintain residential dwelling units for farmers, employees, and their families on IALs under certain conditions;

 

4.  Establishes an IAL Qualified Agricultural Cost Tax Credit;

 

5.  Allows the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to guarantee loans made by commercial lenders to agricultural producers for the development and implementation of agricultural projects located on land designated as IALs, under certain conditions;

 

 6.  Requires the master irrigation inventory plan of the State Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan to include the identification of sources of water used by agricultural operations, particularly those on lands designated as IALs; and identification of current and future water needs for agricultural operations on lands designated as IALs; and

 

7.  Requires certain agencies that issue permits to implement a procedure for priority processing of permit applications and renewals for agricultural processing facilities that process crops or livestock from certain agribusinesses.

 

The goal of the incentives and protections included in this bill is to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands.  The amount of tax credits is a work in progress as we await revenue updates from the Council of Revenues in order to balance our state budget.

 

Thank you.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 2005, House Draft 1

Renewable Energy Technologies; Solar Electric Energy

March 4, 2008

 

I rise in support.

 

This bill would expand the renewable energy technologies tax credit to include solar electric energy systems.  The reasoning is solar generated electricity can come from a broader range of technologies than just photovoltaic (PV), such as solar thermal systems that produce electricity.

 

Thank you.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 2502, House Draft 2

Solar Energy Facility in Agricultural District

March 4, 2008

 

I rise in support.

 

The increased use of Hawaii's abundant renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, ocean thermal, wave, and biomass resources, is key to reducing Hawaii's green house gas emissions and contribution to global warming and creating new job opportunities and economic diversification.  In 2006, Hawaii's oil imports totaled $3,400,000,000 for the year, accounting for approximately 15 per cent of the total imports.  Over 93 per cent of Hawaii's energy is supplied by fossil fuel.  By allowing solar energy facilities to be built on marginal agricultural lands or agricultural lands with soil classified D or E, there will be more beneficial effects for Hawaii's economy, environment, and energy security than leaving such lands unused.

 

Thank you.