Environmental Matters in the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Hawaii is first state to require solar water heaters in new homes.  On June 26, Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill into law requiring the energy-saving systems in homes starting in 2010.  The new law prohibits issuing building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. Some exceptions will be allowed, such as forested areas where there are low amounts of sunshine. Hawaii relies on imported fossil fuels more than any other state, with about 90 percent of its energy sources coming from foreign countries, according to state data. That dependency is unacceptable to Governor Lingle.  She announced the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative partnership that aims to have at least 70 percent of Hawaii’s energy needs supplied by renewable sources by 2030.