Why not put the money into solar water heating and photovoltaic systems for Oahu homes and buildings instead of building the interisland wind project?
• It is not “either-or.” • We will need large wind projects, solar and PV, and many other renewable technologies, as well as energy efficiency and conservation, to reach our energy goals for the state. • Solar water heating is great, offsetting about 25 percent of a typical family’s electric bill. But it generates NO electricity, so the remaining 75 percent must come from somewhere. Some homes, including many apartments, do not have enough roof area for such systems. • Customer-sited PV is an important renewable resource as well, particularly for some businesses and some homes, but it cannot be the only solution to Hawaii’s energy needs. PV can be expensive and may have a lower energy output than other renewable resources. A PV-powered home must either have a large, costly battery system or it must get power from the grid when sunlight is not sufficient, overnight or in bad weather. (The need for batteries is not unique to small PV installations.
