By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Columnist

A group of solar-energy advocates has been making the rounds in Hawai'i, talking up the concept of the government issuing a solar bond.

That's a bond used to install solar photovoltaic panels and energy-efficiency modifications in government buildings.

The resulting savings in electricity costs would pay off the bond without cost to taxpayers. San Francisco already has issued such a bond and is making building improvements with it.

The benefits in the San Francisco project are clear, said David Hochschild of the Vote Solar Initiative.

"San Francisco is now installing its first solar project since the $100 million bond passed last year. The project is a 688-kw solar array on the roof of the Moscone Center and is coupled with a major energy-efficiency upgrade. Together, the solar and energy efficiency will reduce electricity consumption by 38 percent," he said.

For more information on the organization and its mission, see www.votesolar.org.

Representatives of Vote Solar and Power Shift, two nonprofit organizations supporting solar power and energy efficiency, say sunny Hawai'i can benefit more from solar power than any other state.

They said they received a warm reception from members of the state Legislature, and gubernatorial candidates Democrat Mazie Hirono and Republican Linda Lingle say they are strong supporters of solar and other forms of alternative-energy production.

"Hawai'i has a chance to do something significant in the fight against global warming. A solar bond would help the state generate its own power, cleanly and cost-effectively. This would lessen Hawai'i's reliance on overseas oil imports while cleaning the air," Hochschild said.

The long-term goal of supporters of these projects is to make solar power more and more reasonable in price.

Followers of solar energy note that the more of it that gets installed, the cheaper the cost of the solar panels.

"Every time cumulative demand for (photovoltaic gear) doubles, the price goes down by about 20 percent. (Photovoltaic energy system cost) was $100 a watt in 1976. Today it's about $3 a watt," he said.

Hochschild said his group is arguing for a proposal in Honolulu that would call for the purchase of solar panels capable of producing 40 megawatts.

A report by Power Shift said that would save more than 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and more than 400,000 pounds each of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the first year, when compared with traditional power generation.

Jan TenBruggencate is The Advertiser's Kaua'i bureau chief and its science and environment writer. Reach him at (808) 245-3074 or jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.