Duke cuts proposed $100M solar program
October 30, 2008
Duke Energy Carolinas has cut its proposed $100 million rooftop solar program in half in response to critics who contend it is too costly and blocks independent development.
The company is now asking state regulators to OK a $50 million investment that would create a solar network covering more than 420 sites.
The N.C. Utilities Commission is considering Duke’s revised proposal in hearings that began Thursday.
Duke proposed the solar panel program in June. It wanted to spend $40 million in 2009 and $60 million in 2010 to install solar panels on the property of some 850 customers.
The Public Staff, charged with protecting the interests of consumers, suggested cutting the program in half.
Duke expects the smaller network to produce enough electricity to power 13,000 homes.
Duke will install, own and maintain all the equipment related to the solar operations.
It will also get all the power produced by it. Duke will pay customers rent for the use of their property.
The Public Staff contends the smaller program will boost independent efforts while still meeting Duke’s goals.
Those include:
•Encouraging new solar technology.
•Helping the utility meet pending state requirements for energy from alternative sources.
•Helping Duke understand how to deal with a large number of small generators as if they were a single large power plant.
Duke says even though it has not advertised the program, more than 460 customers have called since June to find out if they can have solar units installed.
Duke is not willing to consider, for now, proposals from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and two solar advocacy groups. Those proposals deal with letting customers use some solar power produced on site and allowing them to sell credits for producing non-polluting energy.
Rosalie Day, director of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, says Duke is dragging its feet on both issues. She contends Duke’s program will serve as a barrier to independent investment in solar power.
The environmental groups say Duke should be required to meet a portion of its state renewable quotas through independent solar generators.
Owen Smith, head of renewable energy programs for utilities at Charlotte-based Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK), says that is unrealistic. In his testimony filed Monday, he says Duke cannot rely on independent development to come quickly enough to meet the state’s requirements.
A state law adopted last year phases in quotas for energy from renewable sources. For 2010, utilities must produce .02% of the energy they sell from solar, wind, biomass or other alternative energy sources. That rises to 12.5% by 2021.
Smith says independent programs cited in testimony from the solar groups are occurring largely in California and Ohio, where electricity rates are two to three times higher than in North Carolina.
He says if customers want to hold on to their renewable energy credits and some of the power they produce, they can buy their own solar panels.
Day contends Duke prevents that from happening by not installing meters that would easily allow customers to keep some energy and sell some to the company.
More advanced programs in New Mexico have attracted a large number of individuals and small businesses to install solar panels, she says. Electricity costs about 9 cents a kilowatt-hour there, she says, very much in line with the N.C. average of 8 cents a kilowatt hour.
Tori Richard to install $1.1M solar energy system
October 28, 2008
Tori Richard Ltd. is installing a $1.1 million photovoltaic system that will supply the manufacturer and retailer with almost all of its needed power.
The project is being installed by Suntech Hawaii and will include the installation of 682 modules on the roof of the Tori Richards headquarters on Moonui Street in Kalihi.
Suntech Hawaii designed the 154 kilowatt system, which will provide for 94 percent of the company’s power needs. The system will result in nearly 300,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and 4,356 fewer barrels of oil consumed over the life of the system.
“Going to a photovoltaic system was a huge commitment but also a natural step for us: not only does it help the environment, it significantly helps our bottom line,” said Josh Feldman, Tori Richard owner and CEO, in a statement. “While it feels nice to make ‘green’ decisions, the fact is the PV installation makes simple economic sense. Without significant cost savings, this would not be possible. We look forward to many more local businesses joining us in making the switch to alternative energy.”
Tori Richards has taken several measures to reduce electricity consumption in the past few years such as switching to low-e lighting, upgrading to more energy-efficient air-conditioning systems and installing reflective roof coatings, the company said.
Hoku to install power system for wet-suit manufacturer
October 5, 2008
Hoku Solar will install a photovoltaic power system for a wet-suit manufacturer in Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore.
Hoku Solar, a subsidiary of Hoku Scientific (Nasdaq: HOKU), will install the 34-kilowatt system at the Xcel Building that will generate more than 53,500 kilowatt hours of renewable solar electricity per year. The system will generate enough electricity over its lifetime to power 151 homes for one year and offset more than 885 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, Hoku said.
The Xcel Building is Xcel’s headquarters and manufacturing facility for the wet-suit brand.
Shares of Hoku stock closed up nearly 3 percent to $6.03.
Hyatt’s solar carport first of its kind in state
September 29, 2008
PO‘IPU — The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa welcomed county leaders Friday to a blessing of its rooftop photovoltaics system, one of the largest on the island and the only to serve the dual purpose of shading vehicles parked below.
Experiment Is First Step Toward Solar Power Beamed From Satellites
September 17, 2008
In an experiment that tested technology that could one day be used to transmit solar energy from satellites to Earth, researchers beamed solar energy from one Hawaiian island to another, across a distance of 92 miles. The $1 million experiment was sponsored by the Discovery Channel, which aired an episode about the technology on its Project Earth show on Friday.
Prudential Locations Selects Hoku Solar to Install PV on Prudential Locations’ Oahu Headquarters
August 4, 2008
Prudential Locations, LLC, Hawaii’s largest locally owned and operated real estate company, announced today that it has selected Hoku Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc.that designs, engineers and installs turnkey photovoltaic (PV) power systems, to install a PV power system on Prudential Locations’ Oahu headquarters.
Hoku Solar and Suntech Power Complete Solar Installation for One of Hawaii’s Largest Beverage Distributors
July 23, 2008
KAPOLEI, Hawaii and SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 2008 /Xinhua-PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — Hoku Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU) and designer, engineer and installer of photovoltaic (PV) power systems, and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.(NYSE: STP), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the completion of a 254-kilowatt PV solar power system at the Oahu warehouse and distribution headquarters of Paradise Beverages, Inc.
Hoku Accepts Offer to Sell Kapolei, Hawaii Facility
July 14, 2008
Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU), a materials science company focused on clean energy technologies, today announced it has accepted an offer from Operating Engineers Local Union Number 3, District 17 (Hawaii) to sell its property and facility in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Solar power farm breaks ground on the Big Island
July 12, 2008
Power from the sun will soon be generating enough electricity for 500 homes on the Big Island. After a ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday for Keahole Solar Power, the first phase is under way.
Big Island solar farm to begin construction
July 7, 2008
Sopogy is finally moving forward with the construction of its one-megawatt solar farm at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii after a year of working through state and county permitting processes.
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