§141-9 Energy feedstock program. (a) There is established within the department of agriculture and biosecurity an energy feedstock program that shall:
(b) The chairperson of the board of agriculture and biosecurity shall consult and coordinate with the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office under chapter 196 to establish milestones and objectives for the production of energy feedstock that is grown in the State. The chairperson and the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office shall report the State's progress toward meeting such milestones and objectives annually to the legislature.
(c) The chairperson of the board of agriculture and biosecurity shall also consult and coordinate with research programs and activities at the University of Hawaii that will assist in the further growth and promotion of the energy feedstock production industry in Hawaii.
(d) The chairperson of the board of agriculture and biosecurity may employ temporary staff exempt from chapters 76 and 89. The board may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section. [L 2007, c 159, §5; am L 2012, c 329, §2; am L 2019, c 122, §3; am L 2025, c 236, §§17, 18]