Ige wants community solar option available by 2018
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Gov. David Ige said today Hawaii’s energy community needs to come together to accomplish the state’s renewable goal now that regulators rejected the sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.
Gov. David Ige said today Hawaii’s energy community needs to come together to accomplish the state’s renewable goal now that regulators rejected the sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.
“Now that the (Public Utilities Commission) has spoken on the NextEra merger it is time for everyone to come together and recommit to our shared clean energy future,” Ige said. “Coming together, I think, is a good theme for the coming year.”
Ige was a featured speaker at the 8th annual Hawaii Clean Energy Day at the Laniakea YWCA.
Ige’s goals for Hawaii’s energy sector include centering the electric utility around distributed generation such as rooftop solar and batteries, building community solar projects, as well as closing a loophole in the state’s goal to have 100 percent renewable.
Ige said this coming year he wants a community solar option to be available for Hawaii residents. HECO filed a plan in October for a community solar program, which gives those who do not have space on their roofs for a solar system a way to lower their electrical bill by investing in renewable energy.
“(Community solar) will democratize renewable energy by allowing those who do not have access to rooftop real-estate to be able to participate in the benefits of the clean energy transformation,” Ige said.
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Ige said he wants the program to be approved in 2017 with the goal of having projects up and running by 2018.
During his speech, Ige said that he still is opposed to the use of liquefied natural gas for power generation and views its use as a distraction from the state’s overall goal to get to 100 percent renewable energy dependence by 2045.
“I believe it will be a distraction from the core task at hand,” Ige said.
Ige said that the wants the electric utility’s business model to center around distributed generation, such as rooftop solar and batteries.
“The business model of the traditional utility has to be different,” Ige said. “It just cannot be the same. … The 21st century model is more customer centered with distributed local solutions all across the state.”
Ige said a goal for the upcoming legislative sessions is to fix the loophole in the state’s 100 percent renewable goal, also called the renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
The current law, which set 2045 as the year the state must have 100 percent of its electricity coming from renewable energy resources, allows for the continued use of fossil fuel.
Ige said he plans to bring parties together to close any remaining loopholes in the RPS definition and language.
“My administration is committed to achieving the RPS goals completely and in an affordable way,” he said.
19 responses to “Ige wants community solar option available by 2018”
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I don’t trust what Ige is for or against. He doesn’t even tell us why.
I don’t trust him either. The people want low electricity bills, not sky high bills chasing an elusive non achievable goal that does more harm than good.
what a pipe dream. there is no way that you can cut out fossil fuels 100%. maybe in the year 3045, but not 2045 or any year before that.
“Ige said this coming year he wants a community solar option to be available for Hawaii residents.
Conclusion: Very doeable and fair to all Hawaii residents. Only need the battery storage issue be addressed which will be resolved in short order.
Community solar requires people to buy into a project, meaning that they pay some lump sum amount for shares and then are allowed to receive electricity at some cost. Those costs will determine if it is “fair”.
You might be correct that we can’t get to 100% renewable by 2045 but at least we now have a stated target with a stated deadline. Now we know where we want to be and by when so we can start working on accomplishing the goal. Without a goal you don’t even know what you want. From the book 7 habits of highly effective people, start with the end in mind.
Right. He says it will be done on time and on budget. Wait…haven’t we heard that one before?
When and where did he say that?
The problem is that the people will be paying ridiculously high electricity bills for very little benefit.
should only be approved if it lowers rates, not raises them
Ok.. And I want a Rail that’s under budget and finished on time.
Okay.. And I want a Rail that’s under budget and finished on time.
One “track” mind.
Community solar is a good thing. Imua!
How do you know if it is a “good thing” if you don’t know what it’s going to cost you? You will have to buy shares in a “community solar” project and then you are allowed to buy the generated electricity at some rate. Nobody has yet indicated what the share costs are and what the rate is.
Why does he want to eliminate natural gas as a transition fuel that is cleaner and cheaper than oil? 2045 is a long ways away. I think its because he is afraid that people will like and want to keep the benefits of a cheaper and cleaner fuel option, thereby delaying the dream of 100% renewables. How come no one ever talks about costs in these grand proclamations??
Agree 100 percent. Ige is not a broad visionary thinker.
“community solar”, ” distributed generation, such as rooftop solar and batteries” – What will be the cost for “community solar”? How is he going to make “batteries” affordable? Anyone can spout these kinds of ideas. When are we going to get to the matter of COST?
Expectation Management, we also wanted the rail to go to UH….