Maui Electric Co. (MECO) held an opening dedication of its "Solar for Molokai" program, funded by a $1.1 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service. The fund is expected to support the installation of 300 to 400 solar water heating systems over two to three years. MECO will provide over $320,000 in rebates and administration of the program. The grant was one of nine proposals in seven states awarded funding to upgrade energy efficiency and electrical service to rural areas with extremely high energy costs.
"This is a great opportunity for the residents of Molokai to reduce residential water heating costs with clean, renewable solar power," said MECO President Ed Reinhardt. "And we're very grateful for the support of our community partners at USDA on Molokai, Maui Economic Opportunity, the Molokai Community Services Council, Maui County's Department of Housing and Human Concerns, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Molokai Community Federal Credit Union, and Ke Aupuni Lokahi, which oversees the island's Enterprise Community efforts."
