Solar Energy in Hawaii

Does This Big Island Community Really Need 30,000 Solar Panels?

By Patricia Tummons / August 11, 2016

Residents of the Ocean View Ranchos subdivision are hoping state regulators reject an overhead power line, effectively killing the project.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

UH Manoa Has Failed To Cut Energy Use. So Now What?

By Courtney Teague / February 18, 2016

The University of Hawaii is hoping a new focus on renewables will finally help it meet energy consumption goals it set years ago.

Civil Beat

Living Hawaii: Two-Thirds Of An Electricity Price Revolution?

By Eric Pape / November 20, 2015

Hawaiian Electric wants to offer shockingly lower rates to customers — at least for part of the day.

Doug Murray/FPL

Does a New Law Really Require 100 Percent Renewable Energy By 2045?

By Nathan Eagle / September 15, 2015

Hawaii officials and industry insiders tout the new policy. But in reality, it could allow the use of up to 50 percent fossil fuels three decades from now.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Curt Sanburn: Bringing Order to Design Chaos at UH Manoa

By Curt Sanburn / September 13, 2015

Led by veteran sustainability advocate Steve Meder, the planners at University of Hawaii's main campus map out the 21st century.

Flickr.com/Justin Ornellas

Proposed NextEra Merger: And Now, a Few Words From Lanai

By Sally Kaye / September 11, 2015

Lanai residents, well, some of them anyway, turned out for a couple of recent sessions with NextEra and the Public Utilities Commission.

Blue Planet Foundation

Solar Power Deserves a Two-Sided Debate

By Richard Wallsgrove, Melissa Miyashiro / August 7, 2015

The fact is, Hawaii has enjoyed phenomenal success with solar power.

PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Ian Lind: Former PUC Chair Speaks Out Against Solar Subsidies

By Ian Lind / July 29, 2015

Mina Morita is locked in a bitter dispute with companies fighting the possible loss of rooftop solar subsidies. She says HECO risks becoming over-reliant on solar.

Jon Callas/Flickr.com

HECO’s Proposed Tax on New Solar Customers Defies Will of the People

By Robert Harris / July 14, 2015

The utility's latest move to discourage rooftop solar installations jeopardizes families' ability to claim a federal tax credit.

ProVision Solar

Why Hawaii Missed Out on a Much-Needed Solar Project

By Sally Kaye / July 8, 2015

Years of bickering over a proposed energy park have led to the PUC finally cracking down on HECO and the developers.

Much-Touted Green Energy Program Falls Far Short of the Hype

By Patricia Tummons / March 5, 2015

The initial program is not going to benefit renters at all, and very few homeowners. Only nonprofits — and well-established ones at that — are going to be eligible to participate.