February marks the 22nd straight month of year-over-year declines in the number of monthly rooftop solar permits issued by the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting.

There were 343 rooftop photovoltaic permits issued in February, according to data provided by Marco Mangelsdorf, president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar Inc.

Photovoltaic installations plunged 40 percent in February from the year-earlier period on Oahu and 67 percent from February 2013.

The top PV installer was American Electric Co. with 70 permits pulled in February followed by Alternate Energy Inc. with 63 and Bonterra Solar Services with 55, according to Mangelsdorf.

The trend of issued permits will lead to a bleak future for the solar industry, Mangelsdorf said.

“Electrical Solutions, one of the early pioneers in installing solar electric systems in the state, including the large PV project on the Ala Moana shopping center, went into bankruptcy recently,” he said. “If these kinds of numbers keep up, there will likely be more such filings.”