Relating To Electric Vehicle Infrastructure.
SB 1668 establishes a new Electric Vehicle Charging Systems and Infrastructure Funding Program to be administered by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), with authority to contract with a third-party administrator. The program is intended to incentivize the installation, maintenance, and upgrade of EV charging systems and related infrastructure statewide, including Level 2 and DC fast charging stations, related technologies, and grid services. The bill directs the PUC to prioritize projects that are publicly accessible, serve multiple users or fleets, support the visitor industry, or benefit low-income, underserved, or environmental justice communities.
The bill also changes the funding structure for EV infrastructure by increasing the petroleum tax deposit into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount from 3 cents to 10 cents per barrel and authorizing up to 60 percent of that subaccount to be used for the new infrastructure program, while up to 40 percent remains available for existing EV rebate programs. It appropriates $2,373,908 for each of fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to launch the program. The measure takes effect July 1, 2025.
The bill would amend Chapter 269 and Section 243-3.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by creating new statutory sections for the EV charging funding program, expanding the uses of the Public Utilities Commission special fund subaccount, and reallocating petroleum tax revenue to support EV charging deployment. It would also impose administrative requirements on the PUC or its contractor, including application review, eligibility verification, reporting, and limits on administrative spending. Affected parties include EV charging project applicants, utilities, property owners, fleets, and communities targeted for infrastructure expansion, as well as petroleum distributors who pay the tax and the PUC, which would oversee the program.
The bill’s stated purpose and structure reflect strong support for clean energy transition, transportation electrification, and climate goals. Even without recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill’s findings and funding design indicate a policy direction favoring accelerated EV infrastructure buildout and broader access to charging. The overall sentiment appears pro-expansion and pro-investment in EV infrastructure, with emphasis on public benefit and grid resilience.
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and allocation-related: the bill increases the share of petroleum tax revenue directed to EV charging infrastructure, which may draw concern from those who prefer those funds remain in other energy, environmental response, or food security uses. Another possible issue is the use of a third-party administrator and the cap on administrative expenses, which suggests concern about program efficiency and oversight. The prioritization of public, fleet, and equity-focused projects may also be debated by stakeholders seeking broader or different eligibility criteria.