New Commercial Photovoltaic System Could Power 220 Homes

-A-Space, a storage facility and commercial center in Honokowai, today announced it has begun construction on the largest commercial photovoltaic power generation system in Maui County. Photo courtesy of Gilbert & Associates.

By Sonia Isotov

AAAAA Rent-A-Space has begun construction on the County’s largest commercial photovoltaic power generation system on Maui at their storage facility and commercial center in Honokowai.

When completed, the 600-kilowatt system will contribute to the state’s “feed-in tariff” program, with the capacity to feed 2880 kilowatt-hours into the island’s electrical grid each day, enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 220 Maui homes.

On top of that, AAAAA Rent-A-Space will also install a “Level 2” electric vehicle charging station which will reportedly be one of the fastest vehicle charges available directly to the public.

Haleakala Solar began construction on the system in June and is expected to complete the project some time in September.

“Our family has done business in the Maui community for almost three decades,” said Michael Knuppe, co-owner of AAAAA Rent-A-Space, in a written statement. “We feel we have an obligation to be good stewards of the island and take the role of being positive, progressive members of the community very seriously. This project provides clean, quantifiable benefits to our center’s merchants, our community, and Hawaii as a whole.”

“Maui Electric is pleased to partner with AAAAA Rent-A-Space in embracing renewable energy and bringing our state closer to realizing our clean energy goals,” said Maui Electric Company’s president Ed Reinhardt.  “We recognize that weaning our state from imported oil will require a diverse portfolio of clean energy sources and this project is yet another step in the right direction for Maui.”   

AAAAA Rent-A-Space and its Retail Center in Honokowai is home to the AAAAA Rent-A-Space storage facility, Pizza Hut, Sweet Trade Tattoo, Healing Hands Chiropractor, I Love It Jewelry & Gift Store, Zensations Spa, Maui Beach Villas, All About Fish, Honokowai Okazuya & Deli, and The Fish Market Maui.