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.