Cash Back to Install a Solar Water Heater
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) provides a one-time rebate to qualifying customers who install solar water heaters.  The Commercial Energy $olutions rebate for solar water heater is offered as a custom incentive on a case-by-case basis to HECO, MECO and HELCO customers. Commercial customers receive $125 per deferred kilowatt (kW) that is coincident with peak electric demands, plus $0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for retrofits and $0.06 per kWh for new construction, based on estimated annual energy savings calculated at time of installation.  A participating contractor will visit the home or business, analyze the building's hot-water usage, and provide a bid for a complete installation, including the anticipated energy savings. When a system is installed, the contractor will instantly deduct the rebate from the installed cost of the system.  Customers may also qualify for the 35% Hawaii State Energy Tax Credit and the 30% federal tax credit for solar water heaters.  Contact:  Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Customer Efficiency Program, P.O. Box 2750, Honolulu, HI 96840-0001; 808-947-6937; http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=db595e658e0fc010VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD&vgnextchannel=84c9f2b154da9010VgnVCM10000053011bacRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&vgnextrefresh=1&level=0&ct=article 

Up to 80% Money Back for Installing Energy Saving Devices
Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative's Commercial Energy Wise Program allows participants to receive an energy use analysis and screening for the installation of cost-effective energy saving devices, which includes solar water heating systems. Commercial customers are eligible for a 50% to 80% rebate for such devices.  To learn more, contact:  Kauai Island Utility Coop, Energy Wise Programs, 4463 Pahee Street, Lihue, HI 96766; 808-246-8284; Fax: 808-246-8268; http://www.kiuc.coop/co-opportunities/links/com/ewc.htm

Income Tax Credits for Business and Residential Energy Improvements
The Hawaii Energy Tax Credits allow individuals or corporations to claim an income tax credit of 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or photovoltaic system.  For a complete list of allowable credits, please refer to:  http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/renewable/solar.  Contact:  Information Specialist, Hawaii Department of Taxation, Taxpayer Services Branch, P.O. Box 259, Honolulu, HI 96809; 808-587-4242; http://www.state.hi.us/tax/tir/tir07-02.pdf and http://www.state.hi.us/tax/

Go Green and Get Your Permit Faster
In Hawaii, the law requires each county agency that issues building, construction, or development-related permits to establish a procedure for priority processing of permit applications for construction projects incorporating energy and environmental design building standards. The priority processing will be provided at no additional cost.  Contact your county building department for further information; details can be found here:  http://www.bookmarki.com/Articles.asp?ID=164  

$2.0 Million Over 5 Years for High Tech Businesses
Hawaii offers a 100% tax credit on an equity investment in a qualified high tech business (QHTB). The purpose of this credit is to encourage investment in Hawaii's high tech companies. A qualified high technology business is defined as a business that conducts more than fifty per cent of its activities in qualified research, which includes non-fossil fuel energy-related technology like energy produced by wind, solar energy, hydropower, geothermal resources, ocean thermal energy conversion, wave energy, hydrogen, fuel cells, landfill gas, waste to energy, biomass including municipal solid waste, and biofuels.
 The credit will be allocated as follows: 
• 35% in the year the investment was made (maximum credit of $700,000) 
• 25% in the first year following the year in which the investment was made (maximum credit of $500,000) 
• 20% in the second year following the investment (maximum credit of $400,000) 
• 10% in the third year following the investment (maximum credit of $200,000) 
• 10% in the fourth year following the investment (maximum credit of $200,000) 
Contact:  Technical Section, Hawaii Department of Taxation, Taxpayer Services Branch, PO Box 259, Honolulu, HI 96809; 808-587-1577; http://www.state.hi.us/tax/announce/2003ann01.htm
 

Bond Funding for Solar & Energy Efficient Upgrades
The Honolulu Solar Bond includes $7.85 million for solar and energy-efficiency retrofits for Honolulu public buildings. The bond measure will fund lighting or air-conditioning improvements in municipal buildings across the island, as well as photovoltaic (PV) installations on city buildings in Kapolei. By bundling solar with energy efficiency, projects can be structured so that energy savings exceed debt service and will be immediately revenue-positive.  For more information, contact:  Councilmember Charles K. Djou, 530 S. King Street, Room 202, Honolulu, HI 96813; 808-527-5683; Fax:  808-550-6736; http://www.votesolar.org/honolulu.html

$125,000 to Install Solar Water Heating
The Honolulu Solar Roofs Loan Program offers low-interest loans (0% or 2%) to income-qualified homeowners on the Island of Oahu for the installation of solar water heating systems through the City's Rehabilitation Loan Program.  The low-interest loans are available for single-family homes, condominiums, and coops. The maximum loan is $80,000 for each dwelling unit for owner-occupied properties up to 4 dwelling units not to exceed $125,000 per property. For all other properties, the maximum loan amount is determined by a formula. Most solar hot water heater installations cost approximately $5,000 to $6,000. Loans will be secured by a promissory note and a mortgage on the property.  Contact:  Honolulu Solar Roofs Initiative, City and County of Honolulu, Solar Roofs Initiative, 51 Merchant St., Honolulu, HI 96813; 808-523-4207; Fax:  808-527-5546; http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=b28c5e658e0fc010VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD&vgnextfmt=default

$1.5 Million Loans to Make Your Farm Energy Efficient
Hawaii offers a loan program for agriculture and aquaculture renewable energy projects.  Farmers and Aquaculturists may receive loans for projects involving photovoltaic (PV) energy, hydroelectric power, wind power generation, methane generation, bio-diesel and ethanol production. Loans may provide up to 85% of the project cost (up to a maximum of $1,500,000) for a term of up to forty years. To be eligible, the applicant must be a qualified farmer or aquaculturist with a sound credit rating and the ability to repay the loan, as determined by the Department of Agriculture.  Contact:  Public Information, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, 1428 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI 96814; 808-973-9560; http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/HB2261_SD1_.htm

Rebates on Appliances for Your Business
As part of their Energy$olutions Business program, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO) provides rebates for purchases of energy-efficient appliances. Rebate varies based on energy savings, whether the purchase is for retrofitting or new construction, and in some cases, size of equipment. These rebates cover many of the energy-efficiency options for businesses, and those that are not covered specifically may fit into the Customized Incentives Program, which includes (but is not limited to) window tinting, adjustable speed drives, air conditioning system improvements, process heat recovery, booster pump, heat pump water heaters, and solar water heating.  For a complete list of incentives, see the website below or contact:  Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., P.O. Box 2750, Honolulu, HI 96840-0001; 808-543-7987; Fax:  808-543-7519; http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.8e4610c1e23714340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=84c9f2b154da9010VgnVCM10000053011bacRCRD&vgnextfmt=default