The state will also use this opportunity to launch the inaugural Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit & Expo to provide nations throughout the region an opportunity to share renewable energy policies, best practices, new technologies and innovations.

“Hosting this annual conference provides us with an opportunity to build on our bilateral trade and investment relationships so that we can grow stronger partnerships,” said Governor Linda Lingle. “Having clean energy be a major focus of next year’s Joint Conference will emphasize the role we must play as a model for the Pacific Rim.”

“By focusing the topic of the conference on clean energy, the event is expected to draw upwards of 1,000 government, business and research participants,” said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. “As the worldwide importance of the Asia-Pacific region grows, the need for economic cooperation between Korea and the U.S. Pacific states increases.” Government policymakers, industry professionals, suppliers and customers, and consultants are the targeted audience for this important summit.

“As the Asia-Pacific region sets an aggressive course towards energy independence, we have much to learn from each other. Energy is the number one challenge we face in our region, as well as by nations around the world,” Liu said. “Our solar, wind, wave, geothermal, climate and marine resources serve as the foundation for an economy based on renewable energy.”

For more information on conference participation or sponsorship, please contact Jamie Lum of DBEDT at 808-587-2753 or see the web-site http://asiapacificcleanenergy.com.

Background on the Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Conference:

In 2002, the Governors of the five Pacific U.S. states—Alaska, California, Hawai‘i, Oregon and Washington formally recognized the importance of the relationship with Korea, and made a commitment to strengthen that relationship.

The Joint Conference between Korea and the Pacific states was created to foster trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two regions. In 2006, Idaho joined the consortium.

The Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Conference is sponsored by the Korea-U.S. Economic Council (KUSEC) and the six Pacific states.

This year’s Joint Conference will be held in Seoul and Jeju, Korea, November 14-15, 2008.

KUSEC is a private, non-profit organization under the auspices of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), whose purpose is to promote economic cooperation between Korea and the United States. KUSEC is supported by leading Korean corporations and economic organizations, and exercises significant influence in both private and public sectors.

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Using the Gemini Observatory in Mauna Kea in Hawaii, three scientists from the University of Toronto have taken the images of the star “1RXS J160929.1-210524″, and a possible companion orbiting planet just 500 light years from Earth.

The only previous discoveries of exoplanets have been either freestanding (not circling a star) or those that orbit the comparatively dim brown dwarfs, which make planetary companion detection easier, the team said in a press release.

“This is the first time we have directly seen a planetary mass object in a likely orbit around a star like our Sun,” said David Lafrenière, lead author of a paper submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letters. “If we confirm that this object is indeed gravitationally tied to the star, it will be a major step forward.”

The planet is estimated to have a mass around eight times that of Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet. The team have said the planet, if it is indeed orbiting its star, orbits around 330 times as far from its star as the Earth is from the Sun.

This distance has surprised the scientists and challenged some preconceptions, said Ray Jayawardhana, team member and author of a forthcoming book on extrasolar planets entitled ‘Worlds Beyond’.

“This discovery is yet another reminder of the truly remarkable diversity of worlds out there, and it’s a strong hint that nature may have more than one mechanism for producing planetary mass companions to normal stars,” he said in a press release.

Lafrenière said evidence was strong that the planetary object was orbiting the star, though he added that further observations would be necessary.

“Of course it would be premature to say that the object is definitely orbiting this star, but the evidence is extremely compelling. This will be a very intensely studied object for the next few years!” he enthused.

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Hoku Scientific Inc. took a major step yesterday toward financing its planned polysilicon plant, potentially reducing the amount it needs by half.

The Kapolei-based alternative-energy company has signed a contract worth up to $298 million to supply polysilicon, a key material in making solar panels, to Jiangxi Kinko Energy Co. Ltd., a China-based manufacturer of silicon products.

It is Hoku’s fifth major contract for shipments from its $390 million Pocatello, Idaho, plant, set to start commercial shipments in early 2009. The deal fills the remaining 500 metric tons of capacity from the plant’s expected annual production of 3,500 metric tons.

The contract also supplies a key piece of funding for Hoku, which in May had a tentative $185 million deal with Merrill Lynch & Co. fall through and last month started offering shares to raise funds.

“Kinko Energy’s strategic approach and their focus on growth in the solar market make them an excellent long-term partner for Hoku,” Hoku Chief Executive Officer Dustin Shindo said in a statement expected to be released today. “Looking over a 10-year period, we are actually slightly oversold at current planned capacity.”

Hoku will receive payments through the 10-year contract, starting late next year. Predetermined volumes of polysilicon will be delivered each year at set prices that will decline throughout the term of the agreement. Hoku will receive an initial $10 million deposit that will be used during the plant’s ramp-up to pilot production this year, as well as additional prepayments of $20 million by Dec. 20. Another $25 million is due by March 31.

Shindo said the near-term funds will help reduce the company’s risk of failing to meet financing guidelines in its other supply contracts.

Contracts for two of the four buyers, Sanyo Electric Co. and Global Expertise Wafer Division, expired May 31, leaving Hoku open to being “materially harmed” if one of the companies pulled out, Shindo said in the company’s first-quarter earnings release earlier this month. Shindo said yesterday the company might have to adjust delivery amounts or timing for the two companies to compensate for the Kinko contract.

Suntech Power Co. and Solarfun Power Hong Kong Ltd., Hoku’s other two buyers, have extended their contracts through Dec. 31. The contracts are expected to bring total revenues of up to $2 billion.

Hoku will grant Kinko a security interest in its polysilicon assets to secure an obligation to repay $55 million to Kinko as a credit against product shipments over time.

Hoku said earlier this year it would fund the plant through $240 million in customer prepayments and $40 million of its own cash. The remaining $110 million would come from a combination of prepayments from new customers, and from debt, equity and other financing.

Under the agreement with Kinko, up to $55 million could be applied toward the $110 million Hoku needs, Shindo said. Although the company said earlier this month that it had raised $58 million for the plant’s pilot production, it will still need to raise funds not covered by the Kinko contract through this year.

“We plan to continue with our equity distribution agreement and other funding strategies, but do not expect we will need to sell as many shares to complete our plant financing,” Shindo said.

Last month, the company entered into an agreement with UBS Securities LLC to offer up to $54 million in stock sales. From June 12 through June 30, the company sold 527,815 shares for gross proceeds of $3.3 million. Hoku suspended the program July 1 until the release of first-quarter financial information and plans to resume it within the next month.

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These grains bring aroma and color to the beer, and brewers seek them out in chocolates or ambers from Germany and Canada.
But beer drinkers aren’t the only ones who enjoy their flavor.

So do cows.

Lihue’s Keoki, which uses 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of malt a month, gives spent grain husks to local farmers after sugars are extracted for brewing.

"This will still maintain about 2 to 3 percent sugar when it’s done, so animals love it," said owner Keith Kinsey.

In April, Kinsey installed an energy-saving water heating and cooling exchange system that allows the brewery to function without air conditioners. He estimates the system will pay for itself in two years.

Keoki is one of several isle breweries implementing new sustainable business practices.

Kona Brewing Co. hired a sustainability coordinator to research and implement a recycling program for its isle brewing operations.

This summer at Maui Brewing Co. in Lahaina, owner Garrett Marrero is adding an 80-kilowatt photovoltaic system that will supply 80 percent of the energy used at his Kahana Gateway Center brewpub and a 57-kilowatt system to cover all the energy consumed at his expanding production facility, where he also cans his beer.

"All the beer will be brewed with the Maui sun," said Marrero, who also will install natural lighting, ceiling fans and compact fluorescent lighting during a renovation of his brewpub next month.

Marrero packages his beers in locally made cans instead of bottles and uses recycled cardboard holders instead of plastic rings.

"It’s not only better for the beer, but it’s also a more eco-friendly package for our environment where you can now take a good beer to the beach," he said.

Isle brewing giant Kona Brewing Co. hired a sustainability coordinator earlier this year to research and implement a recycling program for the Big Island brewery. The brewery already has cut its trash output by half, said Mattson Davis, president and chief executive.

A decade ago, Kona shifted its bottling operations to the mainland amid concerns that it was not environmentally or economically sustainable to operate a packaging facility here.

"It does not make a sustainable positive carbon footprint," Davis said. "The other models aren’t sustainable if you want to grow your brand. Hawaii is not a manufacturing state."

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The system uses more than 1,540 individual Suntech modules to produce an estimated 525,000 kilowatt-hours of clean solar power each year. It is the third of three solar projects totaling 358kw of power the Hoku-Suntech team have implemented for Paradise Beverages.

Hoku Scientific and Suntech work together at multiple points in the solar supply chain. In Hawaii, Hoku deploys Suntech modules for many of its commercial installations, while Suntech has engaged Hoku to supply it with solar-grade polysilicon from its planned production facility in Pocatello, Idaho.

”This was another successful project for Hoku Solar and a great example of our partnership-driven approach,” said Dustin Shindo, chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific. ”Not only was it Hoku’s largest PV installation to date, but it was an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Suntech. Hoku takes pride in its partnership-driven approach and is pleased to be able to leverage our global solar industry partnerships for the benefit of our clients here at home.”

”These installations are among the first large-scale deployments of Suntech solar modules in Hawaii,” said Roger Efird, President of Suntech America. ”With abundant sunlight, Hawaii is an ideal location for generating solar energy and is already home to a quickly growing solar market. We are very pleased to be partnering with Hoku Solar to bring the benefits of solar to the people of Hawaii and its beautiful environment.”

About Hoku Scientific, Inc.

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU) is a diversified clean energy technologies company with three business units: Hoku Materials, Hoku Solar and Hoku Fuel Cells. Hoku Materials plans to manufacture, market, and sell polysilicon for the solar market from its plant currently under construction in Pocatello, Idaho. Hoku Solar is a provider of turnkey photovoltaic systems in Hawaii. Hoku Fuel Cells has developed proprietary fuel cell membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for stationary and automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cells. For more information visit http://www.hokuscientific.com .

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is a world leading solar energy company as measured by both production output and capacity of solar cells and modules. Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a variety of high quality, cost effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech offers one of the broadest ranges of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM). Suntech has sales offices worldwide and is a market share leader in key global solar markets. For more information, please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .

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No matter how high the price of electricity goes you still need to use it, said Curtis. But, people are really starting to cut back on the amount that they use, he said, adding that this has been a surprise to utility companies.

Although people are becoming more versed with becoming eco-friendly and going green, Curtis said there is one main reason for not making the shift from burning fossil fuels to using alternative energy systems.

“There is a lot of money to be made in fossil fuels,” said Curtis. “Even though everyone knows we have to get off of it, there are people who want to soak up every drop of it.”

There is still a lot of oil around the world and those who want money will go after it, whereas, since the sun and wind are free, sustainability does not retain as much value, he added.

People in Hawaii are known to pay some of the highest utility bills across the country, said Curtis, adding that less than 2 percent of the state’s energy comes from wind, solar or any other form of alternative energy.

While other states often use more gas, nuclear and coal elements, a majority of the Hawaii’s electricity comes from oil — an expensive feat when the cost of petroleum continues to rise, according to Curtis.

“I think many renewable resources are all cheaper than $40 a barrel of oil. We would save a lot of money [with alternative energy] and would keep the money circulating on Molokai.”

Curtis said Molokai has four assets that can make it totally self-sufficient: ocean wave energy power, ocean thermal energy conversion, solar power and wind power.

The ocean wave systems would be very efficient, he said, adding that wave power could give Molokai 200 times the energy it needs.

Hawaii’s first wave energy project was announced in February, according to the Hawaiian Electric Company Inc. (HECO), which provides 95 percent of people in the state with electricity. Oceanlinx Ltd. is expected to be providing Maui Electric Company Ltd. (MECO), a HECO subsidiary, with electricity through a system of floating platforms on the northeast coast of Maui.

The hardest one of these systems for Molokai would be wind energy, said Curtis.
“Wind has the most fluctuations depending on what the weather is like.”

First Wind, a Massachusetts-based wind energy company that currently operates a successful wind project on Maui, has already held community meetings regarding a proposed wind farm for the island’s west end. The project would sell electricity to Oahu and transfer it via undersea cables.

Ocean thermal energy conversion would provide the most reliable source of energy, said Curtis, adding that temperature differences between shallow and deep waters could power a heat engine that generates electricity.
Solar energy is fairly reliable, but like wave energy, it is unpredictable, said Curtis.

Meanwhile there are individuals on Molokai who are gearing their households to include solar energy systems.
Both Steve Morgan, a west end resident, and Walter Ritte, a Ho’olehua resident, have installed such systems on their properties.

They both use photovoltaic solar cells to power their homes. The cells are semiconductor devices and produce electricity directly from the sun.

The key to systems such as this one is that you learn to use less, and as a result, save money, said Ritte.
“We have become too energy needy,” said Ritte. “We’ve crossed the line of how much energy we use. It’s almost ridiculous.”

Morgan said he decided to install the solar panels for two reasons. First, his house is situated three-quarters of a mile from the nearest utility source, and it would cost about the same amount to run a cable to the house as it would to use the panels.

The second reason comes down to self-sufficiency, he said, adding that relying on alternative energy systems would be beneficial if a disaster were to occur or there were to be a temporary disruption in diesel fuel.

“There is a large demand because of oil prices,” said Paul Lucas, owner of Solar Engineering and Contracting, a company that installs solar power panels.

He said the biggest benefit to such systems is that once the initial cost of the investment for the system is recovered, individuals could save about $50,000 in electricity bills over 20 years.

Solar energy systems also help the environment by reducing the amount of fossil fuel burned to generate electricity.
Some other companies are also pitching in to the ‘going-green’ concept.

MECO provides customers with incentives for considering alternative energy systems, according to Kau’i Awai-Dickson, communications specialist for the company.

The company has developed a program in which it gives a $1,000 rebate to individuals or businesses that install solar water heating systems.

A typical system costs about $5,600, said Awai-Dickson, but added that the amount depends on the sun zone, family size and hot water use, warranty and system type.

So far this year, 12 Molokai residents have installed the systems, resulting in $12,000 in rebates.

Paddlers’ Inn is a business that had a solar system installed recently.

“People are really understanding the value of installing solar water heating,” said Awai-Dickson. “We hope they see that it’s saving from the use of more fossil fuels.”

Dickson said the motive for programs such as the one MECO offers is a combination of trying to work towards a renewable energy future and getting the community to secure energy and cost savings.

Curtis added that Molokai could also look at the other side of the equation — becoming sustainable with electricity would help alleviate its dependence in other areas.

“Once Molokai is truly sustainable, it can frame its own future,” he said. “I love Molokai and would love to see it stay the way it is and not be contaminated by other sources.”

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Wal-Mart’s stores in Hawaii, for instance, will be part of a pilot solar project outfitting 22 Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club and a distribution center with solar power systems. The Sam’s Club on Keeaumoku Street already has 1,488 photovoltaic panels on its rooftop.
The Wal-Mart in Pearl City also has skylights, and a daylight harvesting system that automatically dims and turns off store light during periods of higher natural daylight.

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