Solar Home Tours

This Saturday (March 28), local solar companies RevoluSun and Sunetric are hosting open house tours of homes in Lanikai and Kailua that have installed photovoltaic and/or solar hot water systems on their properties (Star-Bulletin article). This is a great opportunity to learn about home solar systems, talk to homeowners and installers, ask questions about installation and financing, and begin the journey toward installing solar for your own household, business, or faith community buildings. The Star-Bulletin article also has links to resources for those interested in installing a solar system for their home.

Broad Public Support for Utility-Scale Solar

A new poll has found broad public support for utility-scale solar farms on federal lands (original article). The poll was commissioned to determine public support for US Department of Interior plans to fast-track a number of solar power plant proposals on federal lands in the western US. One of the main advantages of large solar farms is that they can be built quickly because they don't require huge facilities like traditional steam turbine-driven power plants.

Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light generally supports distributed energy production, e.g. household- or business-scale solar. By putting power in the hands of the people, we have not only control over our own energy production but also the responsibility to manage our own energy demands. Distributed energy production makes clear the direct link between energy demand and energy production. Such systems are also buffered against grid failure, power plant disruptions, and of course utility rate increases.

That said, building utility-scale solar plants is preferable to more fossil fuel-powered plants. For those of us in condos or apartment buildings who can't generate our own electricity, having the option of purchasing electricity from a renewable energy source is the next best thing. With these favorable poll results, the hope is that the federal government will support private and public investment in renewable energy projects at all scales.

Stimulus Money to Help Finance Kahuku Wind Farm

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing $117 million to help finance the construction of the 30-MegaWatt wind farm in Kahuku. The construction is expected to support 200 jobs, with 6-10 full-time positions after completion...more at the Honolulu Advertiser.

Although First Wind has held meetings with the community, there are concerns by neighbors of noise pollution and shadows broadcast by the more than 200-foot tall turbine towers. A 1000-foot buffer requirement that is being proposed in the state legislature (Senate Bill 2526) may not be sufficient to minimize these impacts, but there are other procedures and regulations in place to deal with these concerns...more at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Help for Financing Home Solar Systems

The state of Hawaii is considering employing a "Property Assessed Clean Energy" bond fund to provide loans to homeowners to pay for the cost of installing solar hot water and photovoltaic electricity systems. The loans would be repaid through property tax assessments, and the loan would stay with the property, not the homeowner. Although there are concerns it would add to the state's debt, helping homeowners overcome the barrier of the high upfront costs would create green jobs and strengthen Hawaii's still small but rapidly growing renewable energy sector...more at the The Honolulu Advertiser.