Insurance tax credits could aid 29,000 in isles
About 29,000 Hawaii residents could be eligible for tax credits if they buy insurance through the Hawaii Health Connector, according to a study released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
To qualify for federal tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, people can earn as much as 400 percent of the Hawaii poverty guidelines ($52,920 for a single person and $108,360 for a family of four) and must not be eligible for affordable coverage from an employer or from Medicaid or Medicare.
HECO seeks more renewable energy for Oahu
Hawaiian Electric is seeking regulatory approval to expand a program that would accelerate the development of large-scale renewable-energy projects on Oahu. HECO asked the state Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday for permission to negotiate with developers of six renewable-energy projects. The projects would be put on a regulatory fast track under a HECO proposal to waive normal competitive bidding.
HECO first announced the fast-track program in February, and in June selected five renewable-energy companies proposing projects with a combined generating capacity of 64 megawatts. Two of those developers have since asked for their projects to be withdrawn, but HECO said the projects can be resubmitted as part of the program’s expansion.
The developers selected by HECO have committed to sell electricity to the utility at an average of 15.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. This is about one-third less than prices paid to existing solar and wind energy projects on Oahu.
Symphony tower to break ground Nov. 20
Construction is nearing a start for the Symphony Honolulu condominium tower at the corner of Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard in Kakaako. Project developer OliverMcMillan said it will hold a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 20. The tower with 388 units is due to be completed near the end of 2015.
ON THE MOVE
Honolulu HomeLoans has announced Anders Hostelley as its president. He has been in the mortgage lending industry for more than 20 years, including serving as branch manager for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage of Hawaii at its Honolulu and Kauai offices.
Central Pacific Bank has appointed Jeffrey Ingels to Kailua branch manager. He has eight years of finance experience and 10 years of leadership and management experience as a business owner. Ingels was previously with Wells Fargo Bank in Newport Beach, Calif., serving as a licensed premier banker.
