2010-03-11 News

Spin Cycle

Shining a Light on the Proposed HECO Solar Freeze

March 10, 2010 | 02:25 PM

Where the sun don't shine…

"Our initial PUC filing discussed a pause in installations. We regret that it has caused unnecessary and unintended alarm among PV developers."

- Hawaiian Electric Company Executive Vice President Robbie Alm, in a February 26 release. Alm goes on to say HECO and the solar industry need to "move promptly…to avoid tough choices"

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Tight feed-in tariff is just another pork-subsidy for polluto-po
March 15, 2010 | 07:02 PM

The PUC needs to require HECO divest all investments in oil companies should any such investments been found on their balance sheets. Refusing interconnections to building-owner financed solar electric systems in Hawaii is not only insane, it should be made a criminal violation with actionable consequences. It is amazing to me that since Pennsylvania Electric Co. back in about 1985 at a national solar conference, recommended that "utilities promptly recognize roof-top surface areas as prime real estate for deployment of distributed power generation plants created by PV solar." Since then for as yet to be explained reasons, investor owned power companies have been among the most reluctant to deploy distributed solar, while simultaneously freely passing on "fuel surcharges" (from which they make a side profit through financial float) to rate payers. This sick system needs to stop. On Maui I recommend every building owner file a law suit against MECO (subsidiary of HECO) for injunctive relief from energy-wasting and inherently unfair utility regulatory policy that prolongs the hegemony of oil-fired electric power in Hawaii.

Bion Howard (www.energybuilder.com)

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