An interesting debate is ramping
up in the halls of the Guam Legislature.
Since the late 1970's, discussion of Guam moving towards the use of
renewable energy sources to support the island's power needs has came and went
like the tides of the ocean. Former
Governor Ricky Bordallo had urged a younger staff member, now retired-Guam
Superior Court Justice and current Guam Senator B.J. Cruz to find a way to make
this effort come to fruition. It was
stonewalled by the fledgling Guam Power Authority. Over the next 30 years, talks and studies and
more discussion and duplicative white papers would fill the GPA archives. Today, the Harmon headquarters of the now
Consolidated Utilities Service is taking on more of the same. What is different there than what was working
on the next source of energy for Guam? Older engineers.
Their work or lack of work was put on display
as debate started this week on Bill 74-32 by the Guam Legislature. While there is a mandate that sets the bar on
how much of our island's power system should be of a sustainable technology,
this newest law is forcing the use of renewable energy on a single customer and
the largest of consumers-the Guam Department of Education.
With a $15 million annual power bill, policy makers
have pulled their collective hair out for years to stop the rising costs of
power and use the money towards basic essentials for education like books,
desks, pencils and other learning materials.
Did you know that of that amount, $10 million is for fuel costs? That leaves the dreaded $5 million portion
for what the technocrats call "stranded costs". There has been many ways to describe this
complex term for "operational costs".
Simply put it is the administration of the power bill and the other
responsibilities to keep the lights on for all power customers. It is this part of the Guam Department of
Education Bill that is bring protected like a newborn baby by GPA.
They absolutely do not want to let this
go.
GPA claims the impacts to their
payment of revenue bonds would be impacted.
GPA claims that they will pass along this cost to rate payers who would
shoulder the loss of this important piece of revenue. Did I mention that the
$10 million is for fuel? GPA claims that they cannot administer renewable
energy as they are short of qualified staff to do so. The Guam Legislature is very eager to
establish this important public policy.
They were miffed by a lack of input by GPA-five months of neglect. The Bill is on the agenda as a statement by
lawmakers that they are willing and able to bring a modern law forward to keep
Guam in pace with other communities around the world that have made the effort
to bring meaningful renewable energy policy to the forefront and move in
lockstep with the rest of the world who is struggling as well with rising
fossil fuel costs.
Adding to the drama
on Bill 74-32, is a subversive element in our community that is trying to make
a buck as a fragile policy is just about to see the light of day. While I have no problem with capitalism, I do
have a problem when such aims will cause great harm to the new Green Guam
Industry before it even has had a chance to grow. A few businessmen have already shown that knowledge
of the costs renewable energy can make a lump in their wallets before a system
is ever put in operation. Like minded
"industry partners" have shown their true colors as they have made a
minor-league attempt to influence sustainable public policy. It is the "I know" and "This
is how we do it in BLANK!".
Guys-good try.
Bill 74-32 will be made whole by those with major-league experience in
this type of politics and push the renewable energy industry forward in Guam
for the best of everyone. Does not sound
too capitalistic? My bet is with the
movement to take Guam closer to its destiny to become a leader in this new
industry in the years to come and the example for the rest of Micronesia.