Hawaii Electric Utilities Seek To Double Solar Commitment
Solar Industry
Hawaiian Electric Co. and its neighbor island utilities, HawaiiElectric Light Co. and Maui Electric Co., have filed an applicationwith the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a program thatcould more than double the amount of solar-generated electricity inHawaii.
If approved by the PUC, the photovoltaic host pilotprogram could add up to 16 MW of new PV systems over a two-year period- more than twice the amount of installed PV at the end of 2008, theutilities note.
Under the proposal, which is aimed at governmentand commercial facilities, the utilities would lease rooftops or otherspace for the systems from property owners. Independent PV developerswould then be contracted to install PV systems at these sites. The PVdevelopers would own, operate and maintain the systems and sell theenergy to the utilities at a fixed rate under a long-term contract.
SOURCE: Hawaiian Electric Co.
