Hawaii ’s average solar installations slumped 56 % in the first half of this year , according to the state 's Department of Business , Economic Development and Tourism . This is called “negative pricing” and is already a regular occurrence in some markets like California (too much solar power at certain times) and Texas (triggered by too much wind and natural gas at certain times). The number of solar permits issued by the City of Honolulu dropped 84 % in 2009 from two years earlier , data from solar watcher Marco Mangelsdorf ##f . Most solar in Hawaii has been installed " behind the meter " on homes and businesses under net metering and , since 2009 , under the Customer Grid Supply program , which is due to end this month . The remaining option for those who want to install solar in Hawaii is to install expensive batteries to soak up excess capacity .
Hawaii ’s average solar installations slumped 56 % in the first half of this year , according to the state 's Department of Business , Economic Development and Tourism . The number of solar permits issued by the City of Honolulu dropped 84 % in 2009 from two years earlier , data from solar watcher Marco Mangelsdorf ##f . Most solar in Hawaii has been installed " behind the meter " on homes and businesses under net metering and , since 2009 , under the Customer Grid Supply program , which is due to end this month . The remaining option for those who want to install solar in Hawaii is to install expensive batteries to soak up excess capacity .