Maui County wants to install solar panels on its buildings

Maui County is seeking contractors to install more than 1,000 solar panels on rooftops of county buildings to save the government money.

County energy commissioner Doug McLeod told the Maui News the photovoltaic panels would be installed on about a dozen buildings on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

McLeod said the power generated would be integrated into the power grid and resold to the county for significantly less money than it pays to Maui Electric Co.

The extent of potential savings was unclear.

The 2009-2010 county Cost of Government Commission set a goal of achieving $1.5 million in savings annually compared to the county’s current electricity spending of about $25 million a year.

Bid for county contracts to install the photovoltaic panels are due June 29.