The Solar Industry vs. HECO – Not So Hostile
Flickr: US Army Environmental Command
It wasn’t a boxing match. But representatives from Hawaiian Electric Co. and the solar industry presented opposing visions of Hawaii’s clean energy future Monday at a meeting sponsored by the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
Unleashing Rooftop Solar Energy through More Efficient Government
From Energy.gov website Submitted by Ramamoorthy Ramesh on June 1, 2011 – 11:45am
http://blog.energy.gov/blog/2011/06/01/unleashing-rooftop-solar-energy-through-more-efficient-government
Across the country, the race is on to drive down the cost of solar energy. And a new challenge through the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative could help slash the costs even faster.
We are challenging cities and counties to compete nationwide to cut the red tape that can push up the price tags on solar energy projects.
One of the highest hurdles for would-be investors in residential and small commercial solar energy installations is navigating the differing and expensive administrative processes required to get their solar panels from the drawing board to the rooftop.
Today the Department of Energy announced a new challenge in which teams of local and regional governments compete for funds to help bring down administrative barriers to residential and small commercial photovoltaic (PV) solar installations by streamlining, standardizing and digitizing their administrative processes. The Rooftop Solar Challenge will also spur participating cities and states across the nation to enable innovative financing programs to help homeowners and entrepreneurs install solar energy systems on their homes and businesses.
Up to 40 percent of the total cost of a solar energy system is the result of balance of system costs, which include the capital required to pay for siting, permitting, and installing a solar energy project and connecting it to the grid.
By challenging local governments to cut their upfront fees and paperwork and standardize their permitting processes, the Challenge will not only reduce the cost to homeowners and businesses of installing solar energy systems, but it will also save money and time for local governments already struggling with tight budgets.
Using the Administration’s “Race to the Top” model, the Rooftop Solar Challenge incentivizes local governments to find new ways to tackle old problems and use the best of those innovative solutions as models for other regions. To participate, cities and counties will build teams with other local governments in their state or region, as well as with other critical stakeholders such as their local utility and their state energy office, to develop a step-by-step plan for how they will meet the goals laid out in the Challenge.
The Rooftop Solar Challenge will encourage participating government teams to compete in four critical areas: standardizing permit processes, updating planning and zoning codes, improving standards for connecting to the grid and increasing access to financing. Each team must submit data, including information about their current permitting and grid interconnection processes to establish the baseline against which to measure the progress they make during the year of the Challenge.
The Rooftop Solar Challenge will make it easier for investors to capitalize on all of the benefits of solar energy technologies, support jobs for solar installers, create new opportunities for small solar companies across the country and help the U.S. remain a top competitor in this key renewable energy market.
The Rooftop Solar Challenge will be funded with $12.5 million as part of the SunShot Initiative, which aims to make solar energy cost-competitive with traditional forms of electricity by reducing the total installed cost of solar energy systems by 75 percent before decade’s end.
For more information and to follow the progress of the Initiative, visit the SunShot Initiative site.
Ramamoorthy Ramesh is the Director of the SunShot Initiative and Solar Energy Technologies Program
Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey
Campus supports alternative transportation options
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Original Post by:
Ann Sakuma
Asst to the VC for Admin, Fin & Oper, Chancellor’s Office
Posted: May. 27, 2011
In light of recent and upcoming improvements and resurfacing of surrounding streets, the University of Hawaii at Manoa has shared the following statement today with the city Department of Transportation Services.
“UH Manoa is committed to supporting alternative modes of transportation in our island state to address the compounding problems related to both pollution and congestion and to promote sustainable means of travel. The campus has begun work on a comprehensive transportation demand management plan that seeks to shift the commuter mode split, hoping to increase the number of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and carpoolers accessing the campus and surrounding community.
“A recent geographic analysis suggests that more than 26 percent of the student, staff, and faculty population live within one (1) mile of the main campus boundaries. Additionally, our recent transportation survey of the campus community found an alarming number of students, staff, and faculty who would, if they felt safer, commute to campus by bicycle. Thus, the street network directly around the campus is critical to ensuring safe travel for bicyclists and pedestrians. We believe significant benefits could be realized through a street design that includes bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in and around the university and surrounding communities. Making these types of improvements will help impact commuting behavior by increasing the attractiveness of bicycle and other environmentally friendly forms of travel.
“As we continue to strive to be an environmentally responsible university, we greatly appreciate the continued support and mutual collaboration as the department reviews infrastructural improvement options in our neighboring communities. Please contact us if we can be of any assistance moving sustainable transportation initiatives forward. Mahalo nui loa.”
Join the Environmental Caucus in
BRINGING CONSERVATION AND ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY to HAWAII
General Membership Meeting and Special Presentation Wind Fall Out
by Director Mike Walters
Informative and moving film about Lanai Residents
and the proposed “Wind Project”
OPEN to the PUBLIC 5:30 pm Democratic Headquarters
TONIGHT, APRIL 20, 2011
5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Headquarters of the Democratic Party
1050 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 2150, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
(Ward Warehouse, 2nd Floor)
A special event for our
April Environmental Caucus General Membership Meeting
5:30 Informational film on Lana’i and Wind Energy
6:00 Steering Committee Reports and Legislation Review
7:15 Break and Chat
7:30-8:30 Special Presentation by Marine Corps Base Hawaii
“GET OFF THE GRID BY 2015”
Conservation, Recycling, Alternative Energy
Presented by Mr. Kent Murata
Director Installations, Environment and Logistics, MCB Hawaii
We just wanted to pass on the news: Blue Planet Foundation is holding a rally to promote House Bill 1520 SD2. This measure requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider implementing on-bill financing. If passed and acted upon by the Public Utilities Commission, this bill would allow residents to pay off clean energy purchases — like solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels — directly on their electric bill.
When: TOMORROW (Tuesday), April 19 from 12:30 to 1:00 pm
Where: Hawaii State Capitol
Who: People who support Clean Energy!
Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey
Subcommittee Chair Energy and Climate Change
Regarding HB 1019
Authorizes the revision of allocation from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax. Extends the existence of the Climate Change Task Force until 6/30/13. Effective 7/1/2117. (SD2)
The House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
Please take the time to call your Representative Monday Morning and ask him/her to allow this measure to pass as amended.
Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey
Subcommittee Chair, Energy and Climate Change
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party
Aloha Members,
Henry Curtis, Life of the Land requests that we inform our members about the following upcoming hearing Tuesday, 4/5/11 Room 308 at 2:00 pm by Finance
on SB 367 – Energy; Interisland High Voltage Electric Transmission Cable System; Public Utilities Commission; Tax Exemptions.
Henry Curtis has the following to say about this legislation: Oppose this legislation at: PLEASE OPPOSE THIS BILL!!
“SB 367 SD3 HD1would create a PUC regulatory structure for undersea cables whereby ratepayers would carry all of the risk and the utility would make all of the profit.
* The utility argument was that it had to happen this year so that a cable company could be chosen this fall.
However, which islands will get proposed windfarms and which size the undersea cables need to be has hit a snag.
Last year the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) ruled that both FirstWind (Moloka`i) and Castle & Cooke (Lana`i) had to file with the PUC by March 18, 2011 term sheets laying out the cost of wind energy.
FirstWind defaulted and did not file a timely excuse. Almost 2 weeks late, FirstWind asked for an 8 month extension.
* The argument that Big Wind is the only answer is also in dispute. The Big Wind EIS Preparation Notice said that there are two alternatives, Big Wind with planning and Big Wind without planning.
Numerous comments to the EISPN challenged this.
DBEDT Office of Planning (March 1, 2011): “it is necessary for the draft EIS to explore alternatives”
US Environmental Protection Agency (Feb 28, 2011): “We recommend analysis of additional alternatives as early as possible”
Rather than rush thru a bad piece of legislation, we should wait until it has been determined whether Big Wind makes sense, and if so, under what conditions.
Please hold SB 367”
Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey
Energy and Climate Change Chair
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party
Today I was present at the final decision making meeting of Senate Ways and Means Committee and am happy to report that “Barrel Tax” has been reappropriated in the following matter per HB 1019.
5 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be deposited
into the environmental response revolving fund
established under section 128D-2;
44.75 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be
deposited into the energy security special fund
established under section 201-12.8;
10 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be deposited
into the energy systems development special fund
established under section 304A-2169; [&I
44.75 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be
deposited into the agricultural development and food
security special fund established under section
141-10 ; and
0.5 cent of the tax on each barrel shall be deposited
into a special account of the general fund to be
expended by the office of planning for the operations
of the climate change task force established by
Act 20, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009.
This is a terrific success. Thank you all who have been following this bill, phoning our representatives and submitting testimony. Special thanks to William South of the Energy and Climate Change Subcommittee who attended Energy hearings on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
Posted by
Lisa Hinano Rey
Chair to Energy and Climate Subcommittee
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party
The committee(s) on Ways and Means will be holding a public decision making on 03-30-11 9:30AM in conference room 211.
Formerly Barrel Tax bill has been amended to include funds to extend the climate change task force!!
The purpose of this Act is to increase the allocated amount
of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax for
the energy security special fund and the agricultural
development and food security special fund from 15 cents of the
tax on each barrel to 44.75 cents of the tax on each barrel in
order to support the intended purposes of Act 73, to extend the
existence of the climate change task force established by
Act 20, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, until June 30,
2013, and allocate 0.5 cent of the tax on each barrel for its
operations.
Please attend if you are able. Submit testimony online at:
testimony
Posted by Lisa Rey
Subcommittee Chair, Energy and Climate Change for Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party
SB 199 – Increases the net metering system size cap. This bill scheduled to be heard by Energy & Environmental Protection on Thursday, 03-17-11 9:40AM in House conference room 325
Please submit testimony now here
Attend in person if you are available.
Mahalo,
Lisa Hinano Rey
Energy & Climate Change Subcommittee
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party