HONOLULU (AP) - Fifteen Kauai schools will soon be powered by the sun in a move the state estimates will save the Department of Education $30 million over 20 years and help reduce Hawaii's dependence on oil.
Hawaii Pacific Solar will install solar panels at the schools at no cost to the state.
The department will buy electricity generated by the panels from Hawaii Pacific Solar a rate of about 16.9 cents per kilowatt hour.
The rate will rise to 28 cents hour over the course of the 20-year contract.
Governor Neil Abercrombie's office said Tuesday the department will save an estimated $30 million over the life of the project. This forecast assumes commercial electricity rates will increase an average of 3 percent per year.
Installation will start next month.
