Hawaii Passes Landmark Solar Roofs Bill

 

The Hawaii state legislature passed a landmark measure on May 1 that would make the state the first in the nation to require solar water heaters as a standard feature on all new homes. The solar roofs bill, which received unanimous support in the House and only two dissenting votes in the Senate, was the top priority of the Hawaii Sierra Club this legislative session.

"This is the type of transformative policy that will define Hawaii's clean energy future," says Hawaii Sierra Club Director Jeff Mikulina, above left. "The solar roofs bill brings the benefit of free sunshine to new homeowners across our islands. We are the Saudi Arabia of sun—every house in the state should be tapping into this free resource."

Earlier this year Hawaii governor Linda Lingle announced a goal of at least 70 percent renewable energy use in the state by 2030. "Achieving this goal is nearly impossible without widespread use of solar water heaters," Mikulina says. "The solar roofs bill is smart policy, sensibly crafted to smooth a transition toward zero-energy homes of the future."

Solar water heaters shave 30 to 40 percent off a home's electricity bill and greatly reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates say the policy comes none too soon, as Hawaii faces the priciest electricity in the nation and clear threats from climate change.

Legislators rejected a bill to set lighting efficiency standards and create a compact fluorescent recycling program, and an in-store recycling bill that would have allowed customers to redeem their bottles and cans at retail stores of a certain size. Even so, says Mikulina, "Passing the solar roofs bill was the single biggest step the legislature took this year to increase Hawaii's energy security."

Comments

[Jacob Hoheim]

What terrific news! That is the type of bold, prescient leadership I expect to see at the NATIONAL level... I would like to extend further kudos to Hawaiians (I lived on Oahu for three years, Aloha!), and Governor Lingle for approving the ambitious goal of 70% renewable energy use by 2030. That is amazing. The rest of the nation will be watching... How wonderful that the last state, a territory colonized under tumultuous circumstances, will give so much back to the country. It appears there is still much to learn from our Hawaiian brethren. Mahalo and Aloha

[Harvey Wasserman]

What fantastic news. This is the real beginning of Solartopia.

Florida had a similar law in the 1920s until the utilities intervened. Now those same utilities want to spend at least $50 billion to build four new atomic reactors.

That won't happen in Hawaii, where wind and sun and tidal and geothermal and ocean thermal energies abound. More importantly, the state is finally showing the political will to make this planet livable for human beings.

My bet is Hawaii will be the first totally Solartopian---ie, post fossil/nuke---state. Ua Mau Ke Ia O Ka'aina I Ka Pono!

[Michele Mician]

I want this to happen for Florida. I know the desire is there in my local community. Cost is the major issue for people retrofitting. Does anyone have suggestons on how I can find funding sources to get solar hot water heater rebates for citizens? or any local/City government programs that I can read up on?

[JACQUE WALKER]

Michele, solar hot water is the single most cost-effective energy retrofit you can make to your home; and depending on the size of your family, it can pay for itself in a year or so! If you have a certified solar contractor install a system that is SRCC or FSEC certified, your system is eligible for a $500 rebate from the State of Florida and a Federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system. Your local utility may also offer a rebate for installing a solar water heater, since solar reduces peak demand on the grid. For Florida, mandates shouldn't even be necessary. Solar hot water can eliminate about 1/3 of your electric bill, and the best units last over 20 years. It's such a no-brainer! With all of it's obvious benefits, anyone who hasn't upgraded to solar yet is simply uninformed or unaware.