Bill 74-32 Signed Into Law

Guam Governor Eddie Calvo today signed Bill 74-32 into law that paves the way for the introduction of solar photovoltaics via Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) into the Guam Public School System.  Thanks to the Guam Renewable Energy Association (GREA) for their advocacy of this important issue for the U.S. Territory.  

Can power rates get any higher?  Guam's cost for power is $0.26/kWh and expected to rise over the next five years.

Should good money continue to be thrown at a bad situation in one of the most challenged education systems in America?  

This effort turns around years of efforts of educators who are finally able to control their own collective destinies and take the savings generated from these private sector led PPA efforts and place these funds into much needed classroom improvements, books, and other learning aids.

This blogger can confirm that the Guam Power Authority was absolutely against this effort.  GPA employed tactics to fight against the bill's implementation  and were unsuccessful in the end. 

This battle was not won overnight.

GPA has stood in front of progress to introduce renewable energy solutions for the island for the past 10 years-calling it perilous to their precious revenue bonds.  Keeping coal fire burning turbines moving versus solar and wind energy is more important to Guam Power.  GPA has been so hypocritical that they pushed hard for solar as a member of the Guam Energy Task Force and through the Guam Consolidated Commission on Utilities attempted to influence the Speaker of the Guam Legislature to buy their arguments that further study and phasing this effort in is best for the people of Guam while their liquefied natural gas proposal was rammed through the Public Utilities Commission of Guam and Guam Legislature .  

GREA stood firm to educate the public and lawmakers that GPA has been wrong in their dealing with this and to force public policy in the right direction in relation to sustainability.

The Guam Renewable Energy Association was started on Guam to bring together all of the renewable energy experts on the Island to establish this well needed industry and to educate the public and private sector on the importance of renewable energy and also the affordability of renewable energy. With Governor Calvo's  recent appointment to President Barack Obama's State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience,  now is the time to stop the business as usual mentality and curb the extreme amounts of monies that the community of Guam has given to use our energy made from fossil fuels. It is equally disturbing to see that our island who is perceived to have taken leadership in renewable energy to be contemplating the exchange of one fossil fuel for another-liquefied natural gas.

 In a few short years we will be at grid parity in the United States with renewable energy and Guam will follow right behind her. The acceleration of energy storage is also becoming mainstream with logic technology being introduced and the pricing becoming competitive to the exportation of this energy to the grid whereas facilities will be able to store their own excess energy that they over produce during the day.  

Today is a great day for renewable energy on Guam and Micronesia-the first in many battles in the war to push our island towards energy independence.

Guam-A Different Perspective

Bill 74-32 sits before the Guam Legislature-a measure that will allow the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) to enter into one or more power purchase agreements (PPA) to purchase solar energy from qualified provider or providers which will be at the best financial interest of the Government of Guam for a period up to and not exceeding twenty five years.  This week, the Guam Renewable Energy Association went on a full court press onto Hessler Street to get this important piece of legislation passed to help grow a fledgling industry in Micronesia.  

GREA was started on Guam to bring together all of the renewable energy experts on the Island to establish this well needed industry and to educate the public and private sector on the importance of renewable energy and also the affordability of renewable energy.  

There are Senators still undecided on this matter.  There are some industry folks including some members of GREA attempting to turn the Bill into a renewable "Christmas" tree law. The Guam Power Authority is fully resisting its passage. 

The time has come for this isolated American community to stop talking about being "green" and demand action to finally bring a sustainable energy solution to our respective doorsteps.

This blogger has learned that in a few short years we will be at grid parity in the United States with renewable energy. The acceleration of energy storage is becoming mainstream with logic technology being introduced and the pricing becoming competitive to the exportation of this energy to the grid whereas facilities will be able to store their own excess energy that they over produce during the day.

Also, after years of bellowing that there are no experts in the renewable energy field on Guam, GREA has brought forward home-grown folks that have been involved in school-related energy projects in the US mainland.   Each with great success.

Why 74-32 now?

GET, LLC and the Association has since been in the process of establishing renewable projects with both short and long term benefits to the utilities grid over the past couple of years. Once this Bill is passed. the costs saved by this solar energy generation would include among other things:

• Social Benefits: including business to business commerce, job creation, a new tax base, training of skilled workers.
• Environmental Benefits: Guam’s contribution to the reduction of fossil fuel becoming a Pacific leader in Island climate change.
• Fuel Price Insurance: Electricity generation from solar resources has an embedded fuel price hedge like value, since its cost of generation is known with reasonable certainty over the expected system life.
• Utility Energy Purchases/ Generation Impacts: Solar Distributed Generation (DG) reduces the onsite energy requirements of the utility customers who employ these systems. As the number of DG systems increase, sufficient energy may be generated by these systems to offset utility purchases of energy or utility generation. These will create a net economic impact associated with avoided fuel purchases and generation plant O&M costs. 
• Transmission and Distribution Line Loss Impacts: Distributed solar projects generate energy at the point of use, reducing consumption of energy from the utility grid. In reducing grid energy requirements, the localized distribution feeders and transmission lines serving the utility experience reduced line losses
• Reliability Benefits: Solar is a proven technology that is very reliable. In larger systems added with storage this can be a very beneficial source of energy for the utility.
• Energy Security: By adding DG solar this will add to Guam’s energy security reducing the effects of any political impact and the associated price of fuel, such as wars, weather, and the relentless manipulation of supply and demand on fossil fuel. 

GET, LLC is proud to be a part of the Association.  We will continue to work with Senators and GPA as a partner in Energy, and continue to establish a credible Industry. An industry that we believe will not only secure our future as becoming less reliant on fossil fuel but securing our future and our children’s, children future as a carbon neutral society.

We, the people of Guam are the owners of our utility and some of us are rate payers.  Our role as owners carries with it an awesome responsibility to our island, its people, its environment, and its economy.  The utility is not an isolated entity unto itself.  We are the utility. Its action or inaction affect all of us. 

Guam Senators-you are the voice of the owners.  

Please vote yes on 74-32.

Guam-A Different Perspective

I write this as the Nation celebrates a tradition that started with George Washington in 1776.  This time, I am in the comfort of my home where the two previous presidential inaugurations I braved the snow, the long lines at the Metro Stations and the sheer anticipation of seeing the President walk down the stairs of the Capitol to be sworn in-a sign that our democracy has and continues to work.

 I remember the pride of seeing my Governor enter the ceremony with the rest of his colleagues and the glimpse of my congresswoman making her way down the steps to her seat.  I watched today as a college contemporary led the new Congress into the ceremony as the Majority Whip. I swelled with pride knowing my Congresswoman was again part of this time honored ceremony repeated every four years since 1973-it was her fifth inauguration event.

 It is a ceremony that reminds us that we are part of the American family.  It is a ceremony that reminds us we have a responsibility to share such pride in our President, even though we here in America's Western most territory don't even vote for him or don't agree with his polices and politics.  It is a ceremony that brings us closer to Washington DC, though we are five time zones away.  Most of our island was asleep as the latest transition of power is completed. 

The presidential inauguration is a time to reaffirm our commitment to our roles as part of the American society.  Whether standing on the lawn of the National Mall or sitting in front of the TV in Southern Guam, this glimpse into the transition of government should remind of us of how special it is to be American.

"Faith in America's Future" was the theme of the 57th inauguration.  Many local policy makers are taking up the challenge laid out by President Barack Obama in his inaugural address. Most Senators have remarked that they should reach across party lines and do what is best for the people of Guam in the creation of public policy.  While their respective terms are just underway, it remains to be seen if this will be a true and lasting change to Guam politics.  And even if this attitude is embraced, will new jobs be created, will our kids gain more from their educational experience and will our island streets be safer?  When the first Legislative session of the 32nd Guam Legislature begins in the coming weeks lets all hope the posturing results in positive public policy that benefits us all. 

The Administration is also going to be expected to embrace this new political normal in Guam.  Governor Eddie Calvo will be presenting his third State of the Island Address very soon.  His first term agenda still has yet to be completed.  Tax refunds, merit bonuses and the delivery of critical public services have driven his decision making since being sworn in January 2011.  The people will be listening to his speech with much interest and with his plan to move the island forward over the course of the new year-and with the buy in and legislative assistance of the Guam Legislature.  Don't forget the Judiciary with all this as they too will be looking at the other two branches to ensure that they can achieve their aggressive goals this year and retain the checks and balances of the three branches.

Celebrating democracy is such a fantastic thing.  I am using this blog post to celebrate one of the most important part of our democracy-the United States Constitution and specifically the first amendment .  I am proud to be an American and proud to be part of this great melting pot-Paradise Guam.