The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) needs to stop rubber-stamping variance applications to install gas water heaters instead of solar water heaters.

For almost 10 years, developers have exploited a loophole to install carbon-spewing, fossil fuel-burning gas heaters. DBEDT is supposed to examine each variance application to see if it makes sense based on the original intent of the law and the state’s clean energy goals.

Variances should be granted in low-sunlight areas like Puna on Hawaii island, but not on the Ewa Plain on Oahu where sunlight is plentiful.

Sadly, DBEDT has approved virtually all the variance applications, which contradicts the original intent of the law. In order for Hawaii to meet its clean energy goals and reduce dependence on fossil fuels to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2045, the loophole must be eliminated.

Nathan Yuen

Ewa Beach

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