Sierra Club sues over new solar tax credits
HONOLULU - The Sierra Club is asking a state court to invalidate new Hawaii Department of Taxation rules that change renewable energy tax credits for solar panel installations.
An Earthjustice attorney filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Sierra Club in circuit court in Honolulu on Tuesday. The complaint asks the court to reinstate the department's earlier interpretation of the tax credits.
The department issued new rules last month, saying it wanted to provide clarity to taxpayers.
But the Sierra Club says the new rules will increase the cost of installing solar panels and fewer panels will be installed.
The new rules calculate tax credit eligibility by total output capacity. The old rules based eligibility on the number of independent connections to the project's electrical system.
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Hawaii to host rodeo for electrical workers
HILO - The Big Island will be hosting a rodeo in February - for electrical workers.
The island's utility, Hawaiian Electric Light Co., said Monday that the rodeo will be a friendly competition among electrical workers who build and maintain poles, wires and underground cables.
Contests include pole climbing, "hurt man" rescues and other simulations of challenges faced by electrical workers.
The competition is scheduled to be held at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area in Kailua-Kona on Feb. 23. It's sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co. and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260.
About 40 teams of line workers from Hawaii and the Mainland are expected to compete.
- From The Maui News and its news services
