Group outlines spending plan for new climate change tax

George F. Lee / Honolulu Star-Advertiser

By Dan Nakaso for Honolulu Star-Advertiser

The new Green Fee Advisory Council had to choose from among more than $2 billion worth of funding requests to help Hawaii respond to climate change, but will only have $100 million or so annually to recommend through the first statewide tax of its kind in the country, which has been collecting revenue since Jan. 1.

The Council received over 600 requests in all from government departments and agencies, community groups and nonprofit organizations — many of whom are already working on projects across the state and need more support.

Gov. Josh Green signed the so-called “Green Fee” into law last year as Act 96. It increases the state’s transient accommodation tax by .075% — to 11% — on overnight lodgings for everyone, including local residents.

Click here to read the full article published by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Feb. 3.