Hawaii sees boost in solar power installations

source: http://thegardenisland.com

HONOLULU (AP) — A record amount of solar power systems were installed in Hawaii in the second quarter of the year.

That's according to a report by Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports (http://ow.ly/dM9Cp ) homeowners and businesses added 16.6 megawatts of solar generated capacity during the April-to-June period. That's a 12 percent increase from 14.8 megawatts in the previous quarter.

Hawaii ranks 10th among top 25 states for the period.

The report notes there's a growing trend of homeowners opting for systems that have no upfront costs. While prices continue to fall, many homeowners still can't afford the upfront cost.

Hawaii's 35 percent state tax credit for photovoltaic systems is one of the most generous in the nation. It can be combined with a 30 percent federal credit.

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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com