Hawaii Budget Strained by Solar Tax Credits

Officials just guesstimated up-front costs, and came up short

Solar is surging in Hawaii. There's no disputing that.

Solar power installations have sprouted all across the islands, helping the state move toward its ambitious renewable energy goal and adding some 2,000 "green-collar" jobs to local economies. The projects account for an estimated 15 percent of all construction statewide. …

But the unexpected popularity of the solar incentive has opened a hole in the state budget and become a major topic in state politics.