Honolulu's solar photovoltaic industry is ahead of its 2012 pace with a total of 7,453 residential permits issued so far this year, which is nearly a 9 percent increase from last year, according to statistics from the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting that are compiled by the state.

But recently, it has not been the same story, considering that for the week of Aug. 5 to Aug. 11, the total number of residential solar PV permits issued was 233, down almost 30 percent from the previous week and down almost 20 percent from the same period last year.

July was also the third straight month showing a year-over-year decline in permits issued on Oahu, according to statistics collected from the city by Marco Mangelsdorf, president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar.

Eric Carlson, a principal for Honolulu-based RevoluSun, one of the top solar PV companies in the state, told PBN that in the early part of this year, there was a lot of uncertainty, like every year, concerning tax credits, which has had an overall impact on sales.

"But in the fall quarter, we have been busy as ever," he said. "There was a 25 percent increase in attendance at the [Building Industry Association Hawaii Remodel It Right, Remodel it Green Expo], which indicates that things are healthy and strong."

The total value of residential permits was $6.6 million, down 26 percent from the pervious week and down almost 30 percent from the same period last year.

In terms of the total value of residential permits for the week of Aug. 5 to Aug. 11, the tally was $211 million, a drop of 7 percent from the same time period last year.

During the same week, Honolulu issued four commercial solar PV permits, which was higher than the single permit issued during the previous week and higher than the two permits issued during the same period last year.

Honolulu's total number of commercial solar PV permits reached 139 so far this year, a 51 percent increase from the same period last year.

In terms of the total value of commercial solar PV permits, the tally was $767,000, which was higher than the $10,000 in the previous week and higher than the $588,000 in the same period last year. So far this year, the total value of commercial solar PV permits reached $47.4 million, an 11 percent decrease from the same period last year.