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Hawaii's solar power flare-up: Too much of a good thing?
So many private solar panels are returning power to the grid that utilities fear their systems can't handle it all.
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
November 17, 2012, 5:53 p.m.
WAILUKU, Hawaii — On an island whose stock in trade is sun, and lots of it, Lawrence and Cindy Lee figured they'd be foolish not to join their neighbors and put a few solar panels on the roof.
The Lees called one of the solar contractors racing around Hawaii these days, and put in their order. Eleven months later, in October — after endless consultations, emails and a $3,000 study required by Maui Electric Co. — they were still waiting for a permit.
"Instead of it being like they want to help you get your solar system in," Lawrence Lee said, "it's more like they don't want you to."
Solar power has grown increasingly popular across the U.S. Sun Belt, but hardly anywhere has it taken hold as it has in Hawaii. Friendly tax credits, the highest average electricity rates in the nation and the most aggressive renewable energy program adopted by any state have sent homeowners scrambling to install photovoltaic systems on their roofs.
More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hawaii-solar-20121118,0,595680.story
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
November 17, 2012, 5:53 p.m.
WAILUKU, Hawaii — On an island whose stock in trade is sun, and lots of it, Lawrence and Cindy Lee figured they'd be foolish not to join their neighbors and put a few solar panels on the roof.
The Lees called one of the solar contractors racing around Hawaii these days, and put in their order. Eleven months later, in October — after endless consultations, emails and a $3,000 study required by Maui Electric Co. — they were still waiting for a permit.
"Instead of it being like they want to help you get your solar system in," Lawrence Lee said, "it's more like they don't want you to."
Solar power has grown increasingly popular across the U.S. Sun Belt, but hardly anywhere has it taken hold as it has in Hawaii. Friendly tax credits, the highest average electricity rates in the nation and the most aggressive renewable energy program adopted by any state have sent homeowners scrambling to install photovoltaic systems on their roofs.
More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hawaii-solar-20121118,0,595680.story
4 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
They're simply going to have to adjust their business model. The people of Hawaii want to go solar, period, and why not, we have a tropical paradise with steady sun a solider 350 days a year or so. I think what's brilliant is that we're really starting to see that renewable energy as a replacement source of power generation to fossil fuels is a reality.
I'm glad you finally got connected! 
