Hawaii solar power integration ranks seventh in U.S.

Hawaii ranked seventh in the nation for solar power integration in a list released Wednesday by Washington, D.C.-based Solar Electric Power Association. The nonprofit ranked Kauai Island Utility Cooperative fourth out of the 1,000 utilities surveyed based on the amount of new solar added. KIUC added 503 watts of new solar per customer in 2014.

SEPA ranked Hawaiian Electric Co. eighth as the Oahu utility added 192 watts per customer in 2014. Maui Electric ranked ninth for adding 191 watts per customer. Hawaiian Electric Light Co. missed the top 10 with 174 watts per customer.

For cumulative solar watts per customer, KIUC ranked sixth with 1,147 watts per customer. HECO ranked eighth with a total of 893 watts per customer and fifth in total solar interconnections in 2014.

Nearly 600,000 Fords recalled

DETROIT » Ford issued four new recalls Wednesday. The latest recalls include about 520,000 vehicles to fix steering gear bolts as well as smaller actions to fix parking lights, fuel pumps and heat shields. One accident is attributed to the problems cited.

The new Ford recalls include:

» 2013-15 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ midsize sedans and 2015 Ford Edge crossovers for bolts on steering gear motor attachments that can corrode, crack and break. The recall includes 518,313 cars.

» 2015 Lincoln MKZ midsize sedans with park lamps that are brighter than regulations allow. Some 22,616 cars are affected.

» 2015 Ford F-150 pickups where some underbody heat shields may be missing or improperly installed, posing a risk of fire. Ninety-one pickups are under recall.

» 2014 Ford Focus, Edge, Escape and Transit Connect vehicles and 2014-15 Ford Fiestas because a problem with the nickel plating on the fuel pump could cause it to seize and then the vehicle could stall or not start. Of the 50,157 vehicles recalled, 45,505 are in the U.S.

Porsches on Lunch Bunch menu

New and old Porsches will line the Kars at the Kurb display at the monthly Auto Lunch Bunch gathering at noon Wednesday.

Porsche of Honolulu will bring a Porsche 911 GTS convertible and Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid to represent what’s new to the Hawaii Yacht Club at 1739 Ala Moana Blvd.

Vintage vehicles will include Bob Lyons’ 1989 Porsche Speedster, Mike Merino’s 1976 Porsche 912E and Ambro Ilagana’s 993 Carrera S from 1997. The model was the last of the air-cooled Porsches.

Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association Executive Director Dave Rolf will be the luncheon speaker. He will talk about the proposal for a hydrogen fueling station for fleet vehicles and eventually individual cars, as well as provide a general update of the auto market.

Reservations are required and can be made through Ed Kemper at 225-2965 or via edracers@aol.com. Attendance costs $15 and includes the meal, unlimited self-serve ice tea and the tip.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: