Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore Hawai'i's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

hawaii

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

HB 242: Relating to Electric Vehicle Batteries

Establishes a working group within the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices. Requires a report to the Legislature.

There is established within the Hawaii state energy office an electric vehicle battery recycling and reuse working group to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices.

The working group shall:
1. Develop a plan for best management practices for the recycling, reuse, or repurposing of electric vehicle batteries;
2. Coordinate with any other organization, working group, or relevant entity within or outside of the State that has similar objectives as the working group, or is researching the recycling, reuse, or repurposing of electric vehicle batteries; and
3. Develop policy recommendations for the legislature to implement based on the working group's findings.



Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group

transportation

Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan & Facility-wide Cap

Hawaii’s HAR 11-60.1 (Chapter 60.1, Subchapter 11) establishes a statewide greenhouse gas regulatory program administered via the Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch. The regulation sets a goal to return statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (original statutory target) and further implements carbon reduction objectives. It designates “affected sources” (large stationary sources with CO₂-equivalent emissions ≥ 100,000 tons per year) that must submit GHG emission reduction plans and incorporate GHG caps, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations into their air permit. Hawaii also integrates GHG emissions into its annual fees for covered sources, and the rules provide for public participation, permit transparency, and confidential treatment where justified.

HB 1585: Electric Vehicles Charging Systems; Rebate; Appropriation

The Hawaii Public Utility Commission (PUC) is authorized to establish an EV charging station rebate program. The PUC may contract with a third-party, non-government entity to administer, operate, and manage the rebate program. The PUC must prioritize rebate awards for EV chargers that are publicly available; serve fuel cell electric vehicle fleets; serve multiple tenants, employees, or customers; support tourism; or serve low- or moderate-income or environmental justice communities.

SB 1534 (Act 222), Relating to Transportation

Creates a mileage-based road usage charge to replace state motor fuel taxes beginning on July 1, 2025, for electric vehicles. Eliminates the $50 annual state vehicle registration surcharge for electric vehicles. Allows electric vehicle owners to pay a registration surcharge or a per-mile road usage fee until June 30, 2028. Requires certificates of inspection to state the odometer reading of vehicles. Requires motor vehicle registration applications to specify whether the type of fuel for which the vehicle is adapted is battery electricity. Requires the Department of Transportation to plan for the deployment of a state mileage-based road user charge program by 2033 and submit a report to the Legislature.

he Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will implement its Hawaiʻi Road Usage Charge (HiRUC) program for light-duty passenger electric vehicles (EVs) effective July 1, following a federally funded, three-year research and demonstration project, as well as 2023 authorizing legislation.

On the next registration renewal received after July 1, eligible EV owners will have the option to pay a state per-mile road usage charge (RUC) of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or a state flat annual state RUC of $50. Both options replace the state’s current $50 EV registration surcharge. By 2028, the state per-mile RUC will become mandatory for EVs, and by 2033, the program is expected to expand to all light-duty vehicles.