Published:
Hawaii State Department of Transportation to Purchase Clean Solar Energy From Hoku Solar

Hoku Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU) has been selected to design, engineer
and install photovoltaic (PV) power systems at airports across the state of
Hawaii. Today, Hoku Solar and the Hawaii State Department of
Transportation (DOT) entered a series of agreements by which the DOT will
purchase solar electricity generated by up to an aggregate of 779 kilowatts
of photovoltaic (PV) power from several systems to be installed, owned and
operated by Hoku Solar.
Hoku Solar plans to install the PV power systems at multiple DOT properties
including Lihue Airport, Kahului Airport, Kona International Airport at
Keahole and Hilo International Airport beginning in 2008. Subject to final
system design, the projects are expected to total up to 779 kilowatts in
aggregate. DOT will buy the electricity generated by Hoku Solar or its
affiliate, who will own and operate each system, and who will sell the
electricity generated by the PV power systems to DOT at a predetermined
rate over a contract period of 20 years.
The projects will contribute directly to the state of Hawaii's demonstrated
focus on energy savings and renewable energy strategies, as outlined in
recent legislation. The initiative also advances the state's continued
leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A project totaling 779
kilowatts of PV could produce enough electricity in 20 years to power
nearly 1,900 homes for a year, and is expected to offset up to 15,000 tons
of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the systems.
"Hoku is proud to have been selected to partner with the Hawaii State
Department of Transportation on this effort," said Dustin Shindo, chairman
and chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific. "Through this initiative
and many others, the state of Hawaii continues to demonstrate real
leadership on issues surrounding renewable energy and climate change."
"This is an exemplary public-private partnership that will bring clean,
solar power to many of our state's public facilities, with minimal up-front
investment," said Brennon Morioka, director of the Hawaii State Department
of Transportation. "Now, more than ever before, the state must seek every
opportunity to integrate renewable power and energy conservation into
public operations. Power purchase agreements like these not only represent
thoughtful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, but they provide important,
incremental relief to the very real dangers of global climate change."
Hoku Solar plans to complete the installation of the systems in 2008,
subject to its ability to obtain third party financing for the procurement
and construction of the PV systems.
About Hoku Scientific, Inc.
Hoku Scientific (NASDAQ: HOKU) is a diversified clean energy technologies
company with three business units: Hoku Materials, Hoku Solar and Hoku Fuel
Cells. Hoku Materials plans to manufacture, market, and sell polysilicon
for the solar market from its plant currently under construction in
Pocatello, Idaho. Hoku Solar markets, sells, and installs turnkey
photovoltaic systems in Hawaii. Hoku Fuel Cells has developed proprietary
fuel cell membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for stationary and
automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cells. For more information visit
www.hokuscientific.com.
About the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airports Division
(DOTA)
DOTA is a division within the Department of Transportation in the State of
Hawaii's Executive Branch of Government.
DOTA is organized into five branches: Administrative, Operations,
Engineering, Planning, and Information Systems. There are four District
Offices overseeing fifteen airports (i.e., Oahu District (3 airports), Maui
District (6 airports), Kauai District (2 airports), Hawaii District (4
airports)). The DOTA administrative offices are located at the Honolulu
International Airport, Inter-island Terminal Building.
For more information visit http://hawaii.gov/dot/airports/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve many
risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to Hoku's ability to
successfully complete the photovoltaic (PV) installation for DOTA in 2008,
or at all; Hoku's ability to successfully identify third party financing
for the procurement and construction of the PV systems; the expected power
output of Hoku's PV systems; the expected performance and durability of
Hoku's PV systems; Hoku's future financial performance; Hoku's business
strategy and plans; and objectives of management for future operations. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as
"anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect,"
"intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should,"
"will," "would" and similar expressions intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Hoku's actual
results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Given these risks,
uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on
these
forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should
specifically consider the risks described in Hoku's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Hoku assumes
no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to
update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information
becomes available in the future.
Copyright © 2008, MarketWire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
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