Hold off on solar-tax rule changes

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 21, 2012

~~<p>In the upcoming session, state lawmakers can no longer be idle on dialing down generous solar tax credits, a clean-energy policy that was initially worthwhile to launch the photovoltaic industry, but has now resulted in millions of dollars in lost state revenue and too-fertile ground for opportunists.</p>
<p>Hawaii's solar industry, now robustly competitive and mature, needs to be weaned off the credits — though that should be done by policymaking legislators in the next couple of months, not abruptly by new temporary tax rules effective Jan. 1.</p>
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In the upcoming session, state lawmakers can no longer be idle on dialing down generous solar tax credits, a clean-energy policy that was initially worthwhile to launch the photovoltaic industry, but has now resulted in millions of dollars in lost state revenue and too-fertile ground for opportunists.

Hawaii's solar industry, now robustly competitive and mature, needs to be weaned off the credits — though that should be done by policymaking legislators in the next couple of months, not abruptly by new temporary tax rules effective Jan. 1. Login for more...