West Hawaii Civic Center adds solar

The West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona flipped the switch Tuesday on a 250-kilowatt solar power system that is projected to save the facility $500,000 in electricity costs during the next 20 years.

REC Solar and SunRun partnered to design and install the $1.8 million photovoltaic system, which will generate an estimated 400,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, or the equivalent of 770 barrels of oil, SunRun said.

SunRun owns and maintains the solar panels, and REC Solar managed the installation. Hawaii County will buy the electricity from SunRun at a fixed price for the next 20 years.

SunRun projects the system will save the county $46,000 in the first year, with savings accumulating to $500,000 over the next 20 years. Hawaii County also will be able to earn money on any surplus electricity from the PV system that is fed back into the Hawaiian Electric Light Co. grid, according to SunRun.

The project is the first on Hawaii island done under the state’s new feed-in tariff system that makes it easier for companies to sell electricity to their utility.

Talks fall through to buy 30 Borders stores

NEW YORK » Bookstore chain Books-A-Million Inc. says its last-minute talks to buy the leases and assets of 30 Borders bookstores out of bankruptcy have fallen through.

Borders Group Inc., which filed for bankruptcy protection in February, received court approval last week to liquidate its 399 stores. The chain said at the time it was talking to Books-A-Million about buying 30 store leases and inventory. But Books-A-Million said Tuesday those talks were unsuccessful.

ON THE MOVE

Central Pacific Bank has appointed Lee Moriwaki as senior vice president and head of business/operations information management. Moriwaki has 30 years of experience in the banking industry.

CB Richard Ellis, the largest commercial real estate services firm in Hawaii, has promoted Lynn Okamoto to associate director of asset services on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii County from general manager of Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui since 1998.

Prudential Locations has hired Steven De La Pena as its newest career coach. He will be responsible for agent development, sales training and sales-related activities to enhance the success of the agents and company. De La Pena has 30 years of experience in the real estate industry.