Environmental groups sue over new solar rules

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 12, 2012

~~<p>The Sierra Club Hawaii chapter and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to try to prevent the state from enforcing new restrictions on solar tax credits, prompting Gov. Neil Abercrombie to accuse the environmentalists of protecting "people who cheat."</p>
<p>The state Department of Taxation issued temporary administrative rules in November to curtail the solar tax credit after the estimated cost grew far higher than the state anticipated and the state Legislature was unable to agree on a solution. The cost of the tax credit rose from $34.7 million in 2010 to $173.8 million in 2012, causing the state Council on Revenues to downgrade the state's revenue forecast.</p>
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The Sierra Club Hawaii chapter and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to try to prevent the state from enforcing new restrictions on solar tax credits, prompting Gov. Neil Abercrombie to accuse the environmentalists of protecting "people who cheat."

The state Department of Taxation issued temporary administrative rules in November to curtail the solar tax credit after the estimated cost grew far higher than the state anticipated and the state Legislature was unable to agree on a solution. The cost of the tax credit rose from $34.7 million in 2010 to $173.8 million in 2012, causing the state Council on Revenues to downgrade the state's revenue forecast. Login for more...