Fujifilm to unveil PV system in Waipahu

Fujifilm North America Corp. is scheduled to dedicate a 320-kilowatt solar electrical generating system July 14 on the roof of its facility in Waipahu.

The photovoltaic system manufactured by Conergy Partners and installed by 21st Century Technologies will be one of the 10 largest PV projects in the state, Fujifilm said in a news release. It will generate an estimated 483,391 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, or enough to power 66 homes.

The project is part of Fujifilm’s global goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020. The project will be installed under Hawaiian Electric Co.’s net metering system, which will allow Fujifilm to get credit for electricity it generates in excess of what it consumes.

Kauai utility gets hydro support

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has received a letter of support from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for the exploration of new, small hydroelectric development.

KIUC has been in consultation with DLNR and other state agencies and elected officials as part of its ongoing outreach efforts as the cooperative evaluates the viability of hydropower on Kauai.

"The state supports renewable and hydroelectric energy projects and encourages the Kauai community to move forward in studying the island’s hydroelectric potential," said Deborah Ward, DLNR information specialist.

The letter voices concern regarding the potential use of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to "license" projects at the construction phase of development, but recognizes that KIUC so far has not filed any license applications. KIUC has discussed these concerns with state officials and is committed to working with state agencies to determine the best process to ensure that state resources are protected.

The Kauai cooperative serves more than 32,000 electric accounts on the island.

California to require online sales tax

SACRAMENTO, Calif. » California shoppers are about to lose a big tax break. Beginning Friday, Amazon.com Inc. and other large, out-of-state retailers will be required to collect sales taxes on purchases that their California customers make on the Internet.

The new tax collection requirement — part of budget-related legislation that was signed into law Wednesday by California Gov. Jerry Brown — is expected to raise an estimated $317 million a year in new state and local government revenue. Not collecting sales taxes gave Internet retailers a competitive price advantage over California’s small businesses and big-box retailers.

California is the seventh and largest state in the country to pass a law to collect taxes on out-of-state Internet sales. Illinois, Arkansas and Connecticut acted earlier this year, North Carolina and Rhode Island in 2009 and New York in 2008.

BJ’s completes $2.8 billion deal

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. plans to go private after reaching a $2.8 billion deal Wednesday that is expected to transform the East Coast discount chain into a national player without pressure from Wall Street.

In a deal that was widely expected, the Westborough, Mass., company will be taken over by two private equity firms, Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners. Leonard Green of California already has retail investments in companies such as J. Crew, Petco Animal Supplies and Whole Foods Market.

ON THE MOVE

 Bank of Hawaii promoted Kevin T. Sakamoto to executive vice president and manager of the Hawaii branch division. He joined the bank in 1993 as a management trainee and held various management and leadership positions within the bank, including metro Windward Oahu regional manager of 11 branches.

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center have announced the following staff hires:

>> Jenny Moon Sung as Kroc Center Hawaii’s education director/assistant director of programs.

>> Nancy Lacambra as Kroc Center Hawaii’s controller.

>> Rosemary Scavuzzo as human resources manager for Kroc Center Hawaii.

>> Denise Tanaka as Kroc Center marketing manager.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union has named Sandy Onizuka as its technical support manager. Onizuka has more than 30 years of technology/systems-related experience in Hawaii and was previously a senior application technical specialist at American Savings Bank.

The fifth annual Bank of Hawaii Community Walk at Kapiolani Park raised $111,000 Saturday for nonprofit organizations that serve children. After-School-All-Stars Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii and HUGS will share in the proceeds of the event created in 2007 to benefit nonprofit groups that could not conduct their own fundraising walks. In its five-year history, the walk has raised more than $560,000.