Solar power is playing a growing part in helping us find and maintain a balance between human needs and the preservation of the natural environment.

It provides good jobs for local workers and is propelling us toward our state’s clean energy goals. It also has the potential to lower energy costs.

But there are real challenges we must overcome to take full advantage of all that solar has to offer.

A poll conducted for The Pacific Resource Partnership in September found that 9 out of 10 Hawaii voters believe we should allow and encourage as many people as we can to install solar power in their homes and businesses.

Phenomenal growth in the solar industry reflects this demand. In 2010, 2,299 rooftop solar permits were issued on Oahu alone, worth $88.16 million or 4.5 percent of all construction spending. Two years later, more than 16,650 permits, worth $689.65 million — more than half of all construction spending — were for photovoltaic (PV).

This surge has created thousands of new "green," sustainable jobs. Using conservative estimates, the solar industry accounted for more than 3,200 jobs in 2012, again, just on Oahu. These are well-paid blue collar and aloha-shirt jobs — for carpenters, electricians, roofers, designers, accountants, salespeople and technicians. These jobs don’t add to our development footprint and will be sustained for years to come as the solar industry expands and rooftop systems need to be replaced on a rolling basis. These are jobs that make our islands more self-sufficient, reducing our oil dependence and contribution to climate change.

Already, throughout the state, more than 40,000 households have become independent producers of clean energy, drastically cutting their utility bills. Our electric grid, built long ago to generate electricity in a few locations from imported oil and distribute it through a system of electrical lines, has not been able to keep up. Some consumers who would like to install a solar photovoltaic system cannot do so.

There are complex technical issues that must be resolved before large numbers of new PV systems can be connected to the grid. For example, on cloudy days and during low-wind conditions, the utilities are required to supply energy without a break in service.

It is extremely difficult for our aging electric system to cycle on and off quickly in response to weather conditions. This is a critical problem because our economy depends on reliable energy.

In addition, many residents, especially in urban Honolulu, live in high-rise buildings that cannot be powered by rooftop solar alone. These consumers will depend on a healthy utility that continues to generate and distribute electricity on a large scale for the foreseeable future.

The reality is we need both utility-scale and consumer-generated power. We need a "smart grid" that can accommodate both, if we are to speed our advance to a safe, stable, clean energy future.

A measure currently being considered by the Legislature would establish a grid modernization planning process that could help address the technical barriers. House Bill 1943 directs the Public Utilities Commission to explore upgrades to the Hawaii electric system for the antici- pated growth of customer generation.

If we are to realize our clean energy vision, the PUC and the utilities must work together to find a safe, reliable solution that makes better use of our natural resources and makes economic sense.

By investing in a modern grid, we can strengthen our economy, create jobs and enhance the quality of life for Hawaii residents.