MECO in top 10 for solar use
KAHULUI - Maui Electric Co. ranks in the nation's top 10 for solar power use.
MECO is seventh in the annual watts-per-customer rankings of the Solar Electric Power Association. In 2011, MECO added 100.2 solar watts per customer, up from 22.8 in 2010.
Hawaiian Electric Co. on Oahu ranked 10th in the nation.
"We congratulate Maui Electric Company and Hawaiian Electric Company for being solar power leaders in the electric utility sector," said Julia Hamm, Solar Electric Power Association president and chief executive officer. "The Hawaiian Electric companies continue to allow a significant amount of solar energy to be integrated into their grids last year, which bring the many benefits of clean solar energy to its customers."
The rankings were announced at the association's annual Utility Solar Conference in Tucson, Ariz., this week.
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Police seek to ID found body
MAALAEA - Police were trying to identify a homeless woman whose body was found Tuesday morning at Maalaea Harbor.
No injuries were observed on the woman, who was found lying on a tree branch and slumped over, said Lt. Jayson Rego of the Criminal Investigation Division. He said the woman appeared to have died early Tuesday or overnight.
The body was found Tuesday morning by a fisherman who had seen the woman walking in the area Monday afternoon, Rego said.
Officers went to the harbor after a 7:37 a.m. report that the woman had been found unresponsive, said Capt. Tivoli Faaumu, commander of the Kihei Patrol District.
Rego said the woman appeared to be Caucasian and between 50 and 60 years old. She was wearing black jeans and a red long-sleeved sweater. She apparently was staying in the area and had been seen walking between the harbor and the pali lookout, Rego said.
An autopsy is pending.
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Free child seat inspections set
WAILUKU - Free child car seat and booster seat inspections will be done from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Maui Marketplace on Dairy Road in Kahului.
Those interested in having child car seats checked to see whether they're properly installed should show up with the child, car seat or booster seat and car. An inspection takes a minimum of 30 minutes for each seat.
The inspections are done on a first-come, first-served basis.
Under state law, child car seats are required for children under age 4. Children from ages 4 to 7 are required to be restrained in either car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles.
Information about upcoming child car seat inspections is available on Facebook by looking up Maui County Child Passenger Safety.
