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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0838.004 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura LLynoi From: Jim Garber Ugarber @solarsupply.com] :,, llO Sent: Monday, Qctober 01, 2012 11:28 AM To: counciltestimony @ co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: fblas©co.hawaii.hi.us;jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; Brenda Ford; phoffmann @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; apilago @co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; bsmart @co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Written Testimony, Bill 305 Aloha Councilmembers, I am writing to request your support of Bill 305, introduced by Councilmember J Yoshimoto, and up for first reading10/2/12 by the Hawaii County Council Bill 305 would eliminate the stipulation that residential PV Building Permits would require the approval of an architect or structural engineer, but would maintain the requirement that a Building Permit be obtained. Bill 305 would also keep the requirement that an electrical engineer provide drawings, specifications and the engineer's approval. The current law stipulating that an architect or structural engineer provide approval is unique to the County of Hawaii, and is not in place throughout the rest of our State. It adds approximately $500 to the cost of every residential PV system, increases the amount of time that the consumer must wait for the system to be installed, and frankly, is not necessary. The weight of a PV system adds approximately 2 1/2 pounds/square foot to the roof load, well within allowable limits. The present law applies to residential PV system installations, but not to residential Solar Water Heating Systems, which weigh more per square foot. Experience statewide has proven that both PV and Solar Water Heating Systems do not put undue stress on residential roofs. The hardware being used to mount PV systems is the same hardware that has been used throughout the State of Hawaii for many years. It was approved for use by the Electric Utilities for their PUC mandated DSM programs, HELCO, HECO, and MECO,and installed on 10's of thousands of rooftops without issue. Building Permits were obtained on these solar water heating systems, and the completed installations were inspected not only by Utility inspectors, but also Department of Public Works inspectors, and passing the inspections with flying colors due to the high quality of the mounting system design and materials used. Public Works is also concerned about the effects of wind on roof mounted systems. Again, experience has shown us that this is not a valid concern. I ask you to recall one of the most often shown video clips taken during Hurricane Iniki in 1992, showing the roof of a residence being blown off While you watch the roof sailing through the air, you notice that the solar collectors are still firmly attached to the roof Might the concern about the roof integrity of solar systems be overblown? I personally have worked full time in the solar industry on Hawaii Island since 1979, and have never seen an instance of a structurally sound roof being negatively affected by the installation of solar PV or water heating panels. I ask that you support Councilmember Yoshimoto's Bill 305, and in turn support the advancement of Renewable Energy on Hawaii Island. I also ask that you instruct the Department of Public Works not to adopt internal prescriptive measures that would circumvent the intent of this legislation. Mahalo, Jim Garber Inter-Island Solar Supply, Kailua-Kona (808) 329-7890 Comm. N 23S/. Ref. To: Ref. Date OCT 0 3 2012 10/1/2012