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HONOLULU, HAWAII -- Hawaii has become the first state in the nation to pass into law a requirement that all new homes built after January 1, 2010, be equipped with solar or other energy efficient hot water systems. Signed into law by Hawaii's governor on June 26, the bill’s introducer, Senate Majority Leader Gary L. Hooser (D-Kaua'i, Ni'ihau) said, "Hawaii is almost totally dependent on imported oil for its energy needs and estimates show that, with this law, our oil consumption will be cut by 30,000 barrels during the first year and continues to decline exponentially thereafter."

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