The State honors Hawaiian Electric utilities and solar industry

June 21-27, 2009 is proclaimed Solar Water Heating Week in Hawai’i

HONOLULU – In honor of the Hawaiian Electric utilities’ and solar industry’s achievement of successfully promoting energy conservation and reaching a milestone 50,000 solar water heating installations across Oahu, Maui County and Hawai’i Island, Governor Linda Lingle and Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona have proclaimed the week of June 21, 2009 as “Solar Water Heating Week” in Hawai’i.  The proclamation was signed today in a ceremony held at Lt. Governor Aiona’s office with utility representatives, solar contractors, key industry partners and legislators present.

“Our hope is to build energetic support for Hawai‘i’s drive toward clean energy,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “The bright future of our energy security is tied to our aggressive pursuit of alternative energy sources, such as solar power.”

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for all of us here and firmly places Hawai’i as a national leader when it comes to solar,” said Dave Waller, Hawaiian Electric’s Vice President, Customer Service.  “We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the solar industry, the Department of Defense, major developers and many, many residential customers for their cooperation and support over the past 13 years, and we look forward to continuing our pursuit of renewable energy resources to ensure a clean energy future for Hawai’i.”

The Solar Water Heating Week proclamation notes the accomplishments of Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawai’i Electric Light Company and the solar industry for encouraging residential customers to install renewable, energy-efficient water heating as a cost-effective solution for a family to lower their electricity consumption. The Hawaiian Electric utilities’ solar water heating rebate program also was lauded for setting industry standards, ensuring residential customers installation by a qualified solar water heating contractor.  Today, an estimated one out of three single family homes in Hawaii is equipped with solar water heating. 

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