Hawaii Enacts Pioneer Solar Legislation
By Caitlin Jones & A. J. Johnson
1 min read
Hawaii Gov. Linda Ingle (R) has signed into law pioneer legislation (S.B. 644) that requires all new homes in the state issued building permits after 2009 to be equipped with solar water heater systems. The measure is said to be the first state law of its type.
The law directs the state public utilities commission to establish standards for solar water heater systems; bars the issuance of building permits after 2009 for single-family residences without a solar water heating system or permissible alternative that meet specified standards; and discontinues the state’s tax credit for solar thermal energy systems for homes receiving permits after 2009, while establishing other incentives.
Various other existing state renewable energy tax credits, including for multifamily residential and commercial buildings, are unchanged.
