Renewable energy project gets $1 million

The U.S. Energy Department has awarded a $500,000 grant that will allow Hawaiian Electric Co. and its partners to better manage the impact of renewable energy on the utilities’ grids through improved forecasting of solar and wind resources. The grant was matched by private funds for a total award of $1 million.

Other partners in the project include the Sacramento (Calif.) Municipal Utility District, two leading energy management companies, a wind and solar forecasting provider, a company with strategic modeling expertise and a Hono­lulu-based information technology and data analytics firm.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiary utilities are already managing much higher levels of variable renewable energy than most other utilities across the country. Roughly 11 percent of HECO’s customers on Oahu have rooftop solar panels, the highest of any utility.

The grant is provided through the DOE’s SunShot Initiative. The HECO project being funded with the SunShot grant is one of about a dozen research and development projects designed to address the impact that growing amounts of intermittent solar energy are having on the utilities’ grids.

Water-cooler timers offered to businesses

Businesses in Oahu, Maui and Hawaii counties are eligible to receive a free water-cooler timer that can save more than $100 in electrical costs annually per unit based on today’s rates. The timers are being offered by Hawaii Energy, the ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program that operates in the three counties. The offer is available through June 30.

Hawaii Energy officials estimate a typical office cooler uses $217 worth of electricity annually on Oahu and slightly more on the neighbor islands. A water-cooler timer can save about $123 in power costs annually based on a rate of 31 cents a kilowatt-hour, according to Hawaii Energy.

Timers are available from participating vendors while supplies last. For information, go to www.hawaiienergy.com/timer or call 839-8800 and 877-231-8222 on the neighbor islands.

AARP offering free tax aid across state

With one week to go before the federal tax filing deadline, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free tax preparation assistance at locations across the state.

AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free tax preparation service, with special attention to residents age 60 and older who have low to moderate incomes. People do not have to be AARP members or retirees to use the free service.

Last year in Hawaii, Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 16,000 residents file their federal and state returns, generating more than $5.8 million in total refunds and more than $1.1 million in earned-income tax credits, according to AARP.

For more information or to locate an AARP Tax-Aide site, go to www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call toll free 888-227-7669.

America’s Mattress stores have new owner

A California mattress retailer with about 300 stores has arranged to buy nine America’s Mattress stores in Hawaii.

Sacramento, Calif.-based Sleep Train announced the purchase agreement Wednesday. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The sale is expected to close April 23.

The Hawaii stores being bought include five on Oahu, two on Hawaii island and one each on Maui and Kauai.

Sleep Train was founded in 1985 and offers a stock ownership plan to its roughly 1,600 employees.

The company over the past several years has been acquiring mattress retailers largely on the West Coast, including Sleep Country USA, Mattress Outlet and Christian’s Mattress Xpress. Other brands under Sleep Train include Got Sleep? and Mattress Discounters.

Minutes show Fed struggled on rate policy

WASHINGTON » The Federal Reserve struggled last month over how to convey to investors that it will raise short-term interest rates only slowly once it increases them from record lows.

Two weeks before the Fed’s regular meeting March 18-19, it held an unusual and previously unannounced videoconference to debate the issue, according to minutes, or written records, of the meeting released Wednesday.

In the end, the Fed settled on an open-ended approach: That even after employment and inflation are nearly back to normal, short-term rates may need to stay unusually low for a while because the economy isn’t fully healthy.

Investors read the minutes as assurance that the Fed won’t raise rates sooner or faster than expected.

ON THE MOVE

The Queen’s Health Systems has named Nona Tamanaha as vice president, human resources. She was previously director, corporate human resources, recruitment, training and development. Her experience includes regional director of human resources for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for Hawaii and French Polynesia, and positions at Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel.

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced its new associates for its Kapolei firm:

» Darren D. DeMello was previously a Realtor associate for Prudential Locations and has more than 10 years of experience in the real estate industry.

» Roz Jacinto was previously a Realtor associate for Nextage Aloha Realty.

SHIFTING GEARS

High schoolers from across state to test auto skills

Hawaii’s best auto technology high school students will compete in the 2014 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition at 10 a.m. April 26 at Hono­lulu Community College. One female from Maui High will participate in the event, indicating the auto industry is starting to open up as a career for technical-minded women.

Hands-on competition will be in the main parking lot — the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Alakawa Street. Students will repair deliberately "bugged" 2014 Fords to demonstrate skills required for succeeding as automotive technicians.

The competition is sponsored by AAA as part of its effort to attract more young adults to the profession.

Here are the six student teams and instructors:

» Aiea High School: instructor Edmund Okada; students Joshua Gima and Kazunori Shima.

» Maui High School: instructor Shannon Rowe; students Jahstyn Aweau and Cameo-Noel Kusunoki.

» Maui High School: instructor Dennis Sasai; students Chayce Mimura and Devin Vea.

» King Kekaulike High School (Maui): instructor Peter Kovacic; students Jack Klingman and Jerami Rother.

» King Kekaulike High School (Maui): instructor Matt Doty; students Brian Amoral and Adam King.

» Waimea High School (Kauai): instructor Bob Saligumba; students Matt DeCosta and Anderson Kahale.

Matco Tools donated prizes for first, second and third place. AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities, the Hawaii NAPA distributor and Ford dealers also have prizes for competitors.

The state winner will travel in June to the 2014 national championship finals in Dearborn, Mich., to compete for millions of dollars in scholarships and prizes.