MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Economic Opportunity Council will receive $1,218,791 to help install 100 solar water heaters and provide energy conservation education to low income families on Hawaii Island, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, and U.S. Representative Mazie K. Hirono have announced.

The money comes through a Rural Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“This grant provides multiple opportunities for Hawaii Island families to save money by using the power of the sun to heat their water, a cost-effective way to manage their utility bills while lessening Hawaii’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. Hawaii’s high energy costs are a burden on many segments of our society and any effort to enhance energy efficiency should be encouraged and supported. I am very pleased that the Obama administration recognizes Hawaii’s role as the clean energy leader and continues to support our efforts with federal investments,” Inouye said.

“I am so pleased that USDA and Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council are helping eligible Hawaii Island families reduce their energy use and install solar water heaters,” Akaka said. “Given the high energy costs in our state, energy efficiency and conservation are important as they help us to do more with less electricity. Solar water heaters are truly a win-win because they save families money and make use of clean energy. Solar water heaters are a great investment, and I encourage businesses and homeowners to look into this cost-saving technology. This program – along with the support and ingenuity of people across Hawaii – will help us continue to move forward as a leader in clean energy.”

“The people of Hawaii pay the highest electricity costs in the country – close to $170 per household per month. I know first-hand how a solar water heater unit can help ease those costs as my family has used one for years in our home on Oahu. This is the type of program that puts people to work installing solar heating units and helps Hawaii families save money, especially our rural communities on Hawaii Island. This also keeps our island state on the path to reaching our goal of becoming energy self-sufficient,” Hirono said.

Chris Kanazawa, USDA Rural Development Hawaii State Director said, “The High Energy Cost Grant Program assists rural residents and businesses in Hawaii to upgrade energy infrastructure and make other energy efficiency improvements. These grants are another example of how USDA Rural Development in Hawaii works to help local rural communities overcome economic obstacles and create opportunity.”

Rural Development funds will be used by this project to decrease the energy consumption of low-income residents and increase their economic self-sufficiency by reducing the proportion of their total income allocated to this need.

This project will assist the low-income residents in Hawaii County to reduce their high utility costs by: 1) providing them with energy conservation education and 2) the installation of energy saving devices.

The devices will be determined upon completion of an individual application, detailed energy audit of the home (where applicable), attendance at an energy education workshop and signed assurances by home owners to comply with program guidelines.

The project will involve the installation of 100 solar water heaters and small scale photovoltaic systems for off-grid homes.

Households at 200 percent or above the poverty level will participate in a cost-sharing arrangement whereby the project will cover 80 percent of the cost and the home owner will pay the remaining 20 percent.