Hawaii will receive just over $1.2 million of the $120 million settlement General Motors Co. agreed to last week with 48 other states and the District of Columbia over defective ignition switches in many of its cars, said Lisa Tong of the state Office of Consumer Protection.

Tong said the money will be deposited into a state fund for consumer education and the enforcement of consumer laws.

The defect allowed unintended key rotation to the off position as the vehicle was running, which disabled the air bags. GM acknowledged in 2014 that the defective ignition switches caused or contributed to 15 deaths, and recalled more than 9 million vehicles nationwide with model year dates 1998 to 2014.

Kauai to get state’s largest solar/battery site

SunPower Corp. and AES Corp. agreed to build Hawaii’s largest combined solar-power and battery-storage system on Kauai.

The 28 megawatts of solar panels will be installed on trackers that follow the sun and will be paired with 20 megawatts of battery storage that can supply power for five hours, the companies said in a joint statement Wednesday. The tracking system boosts energy production by 30 percent compared with fixed panels, SunPower said.

AES will own and operate the project, which will be completed by the end of next year. The output will be sold to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative under a long-term contract.

Kauai

Mayor Carvalho announces bid for lieutenant governor

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. announced Wednesday he will run in what is shaping up to be a crowded race for lieutenant governor next year.

Carvalho, 56, has served as mayor since 2008 and has worked for Kauai County since 1985.

He reportedly had been eyeing the governor’s office but said he decided to run for lieutenant governor after hearing from constituents and discussing his options with his wife, Regina.

“I enjoy talking to people. I’m out and about, asking questions,” Carvalho said at a news conference at the state Capitol. “I heard a consistent message: no voice, no bridge, no action. … This concerns me deeply.”

He said he views the lieutenant governor as an extension of the governor’s office and envisions being able to tackle issues ranging from homelessness to transportation and energy.

“Moving forward, working with the governor as a team, I believe we can assure the voice of the people will be heard,” he said. “I believe we can build bridges to connect people and resources. I believe we will bring action to everything that we do — and that is, action with aloha.”

If he advances in the primary election, Carvalho said he’s ready and willing to work with whomever wins the Democratic race for governor.

“I’m an open kind of guy, I’m willing to work with anybody,” he said. “Whoever becomes governor I’m totally willing. Let’s rock and roll, let’s shake hands and go.”

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said he will not seek re-election when his term ends next year. Other Democratic contenders in the race so far include state Sens. Will Espero, Josh Green and Jill Tokuda; and Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa.