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.

Renewable Energy in Micronesia-Island Legislators Take on Sustainable Public Policy

When the Association of Pacific Island Legislators (APIL) met in Honolulu last week, the membership heard from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) on the efforts in Micronesia to drive forward into the future less reliant on foreign fuels.  Each and every day islanders from Majuro to Yap  spend each day without the modern amenities of power as a means to help drive their respective island societies and economies.  While the larger island like Guam may enjoy such technologies across much of the unincorporated U.S. Territory, there are many isolated areas of Micronesia that still do not have electricity serving residents. 

Legislators listened intently to an SPC presentation that was not exactly an "eye opener", but allowed them all to re-think their collective positions on this important quality of life issue and how to help bring every part of their respective island communities into the 21st Century. GET, LLC was privileged to be part of this important audience held at the Hawaii State Capitol Building.

We learned that there are fascinating things happening across Micronesia related to advancing the use of renewable energy. Solar power is bringing 6,000 people in the Marshall Islands access to basic electricity for the first time ever.  Solar powered-lanterns are bringing light to isolated parts of Yap that was previously done courtesy of kerosene-fueled fires or other means.  This is the first time that at least 7,000 people there will have access to electricity and specifically lighting.  Also, Hydropower is changing lives in Pohnpei.  Other renewable energy sources like wind and Biofuels are allowing commerce and job creation to thrive throughout the remote islands of the FSM. Palau is adding grid connected solar photovoltaic systems into their Capitol Building and Guam is anxiously awaiting the completion of a 100 kW solar array construction project in Inarajan.   There is no question that electricity can change lives all while preserving centuries old cultural practices.  The SPC study did highlight the need to protect culture and preserve our way of life by finding smart policies to make this work for every man, woman and child across our great region of the Pacific.

Legislators remarked of ways to bring affordable solutions to the islands.  Policies that endorse technologies with multiple applications were encouraged.  Commitments to create modern laws and new regulations related to this important issue were shared with the shared concern that they all are driven with community input was broadly accepted best practices for island communities.

There were some missing components.  Renewable Energy targets were outlined but associated policies were are not placed on the front burner-low hanging fruit to begin the trek to wean ourselves from fossil fuels.  Energy efficiencies to include the changing of light bulbs or the use of energy efficient appliances can help this across the islands, but many see food and other staples more important that these swift and largely sustainable moves. Lawmakers were intrigued with this, but challenged to bring about such policies that would be of great help to reduce energy.  Even transportation-the means that connects us to the world around us all-is complex and makes this issue even more important, especially related to energy security. 

We as a global community should get behind the APIL's efforts on the energy front.  They all are committed.  They all are prepared to be leaders in energy.  They all know the fallout for not taking action or by a misstep to satisfy small constituencies that benefit financially while the greater communities of Micronesia remain left behind with such a simple amenity of life in the island and part of the world community.