Renewables Present Dual Opportunity for Hawaii

In a dual effort that would help curb carbon emissions and eliminate dependency on imported - and expensive - oil, Hawaii is on the verge of being the first state in the U.S. to set a goal of generating all of its electricity from renewable energy sources.

Solar Education and Energy Savings

The Hawaii Department of Education plans to install solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV) on each public school in the state over the next five years. Electricity costs will decrease while helping the state meet its renewable energy goal of 90 percent clean energy by 2040. Little or no upfront costs from the state would be necessary to fund the proposed improvements. In fact schools should end up making money when extra power is generated and sold. Yearly electrical cost savings might be close to $5 million.

Solar Energy Plane Passes First Test

The Solar Impulse aircraft, a pioneering Swiss bid to fly around the world on solar energy, successfully completed its first test flight in western Switzerland on Wednesday. It flew for 87 minutes propelled by four, 10-horsepower electric motors, which get their energy from 12,000 solar cells. Pioneering around-the-world balloonist Bertrand Piccard founded the project. The team plans to undertake the world tour in five stages by 2013.