HECO aims to double solar-generated power
HAWAII - Hawaiian Electric Co. and its neighbor island subsidiaries hope to more than double the amount of solar-generated electricity in Hawaii.
The utility aims to lease roof space from government agencies and commercial businesses, then contract solar power providers to install photovoltaic systems at these sites.
The contractors would sell the energy to Hawaiian Electric at a fixed rate under a long-term contract.
Photovoltaic systems use silicon panels or similar materials to harness solar energy. The solar power generates electricity which is fed into the utility power grid.
Hawaiian Electric is applying to the Public Utilities Commission for permission to launch the project.
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Battery-electric buses hit the roads in Metro Vancouver
VANCOUVER - TransLink's first battery-electric buses are taking to the roads in Metro Vancouver as part of a pilot project to reduce emissions.
The first four zero-emission buses picked up commuters in Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster on Wednesday. Six more are expected to be brought in.
"With so many people taking transit in Vancouver today, electric buses will make a real difference," said Merran Smith, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University, in a release.
According to TransLink, each bus is expected to reduce 100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and save $40,000 in fuel costs…