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Committees amend SB 2373 to shift marine carbon methodology work to DLNR
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Summary
SB 2373, establishing a state goal to strengthen nature-based carbon reduction, was amended to remove the Hawaii State Energy Office from responsibility for marine carbon sequestration methodologies and to authorize DLNR to evaluate and develop marine ecosystem restoration methodologies. The measure passed with amendments.
The Senate committees considered SB 2373, a bill directing state agencies to identify opportunities for investing in nature-based carbon-reduction solutions and authorizing the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop methodologies to quantify carbon reductions from marine ecosystem restoration.
Monique Zampas of the Hawaii State Energy Office told the committee that marine carbon sequestration "is outside of our expertise" and asked to be removed from the bill’s responsibility, suggesting DLNR or academic institutions as better fits. Leah Laramie of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other agency witnesses offered comment and said DLNR already works on carbon-sequestration programs for land management.
After conferring, the chairs proposed and adopted an amendment to authorize DLNR to evaluate and develop methodologies for quantifying marine and other nature-based carbon reductions and remove HSEO from that responsibility. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 2373 with amendments.
