NAWIC Guam Hosts 2017 Block Kids Event

It was not a typical Saturday on Guam. While many were just stirring their way to start yet another weekend in Paradise, a handful of our Island's young people made their way to the Guam Community College (GCC) to participate the in the third annual Block Kids Lego Competition hosted by the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) Guam Chapter #381.

It was event that showcased originality.

It stirred creativity.

The event brought out imagination.

This Blogger was taken aback by the interest showed by the many kids and teachers in attendance. These school children, representing the villages of Yigo south to Merizo and all areas in-between, were eager to show off their skills with a Lego and their imaginative thinking using the iconic plastic construction toy. 

I talked to a number of parents at the event and all were very proud of the prep work each of their respective youngsters put into the NAWIC event.  No question that there were many in the 2017 edition that had participated in the two previous events. Additionally, many of the volunteers were excited to be a part of this signature event too.  I was impressed by the organization and energy-it was not hard to smile at the enthusiasm. 

NAWIC Guam works hard during the year to share the Block Kids Program with many island schools that culminates in the annual event at GCC. The work of the NAWIC Guam sisters paid off. Prizes were awarded for the top designs across the different grade levels-including a Lego version of the United States Capitol Building.  

Attitude and insight were rewarded today. I understand that the judges were impressed with the range of final products which they said gets better each and every year.  

At a time when we are wondering if our kids are losing their interest in such activities with the amount of mass media and technology getting the best of many their age, this event reminds us that the creation of the structures today are creations of Guam's future engineer or construction professional. 

One final note, a good portion of the participants in the Block Kids event were girls-including the youngest of my four daughters. 

GET, LLC is proud to be a member of NAWIC and the Guam Chapter-one of 150 chapters with a network of 4,500 members nationwide.  We hold NAWIC's core values close to our business- Believe.  Persevere.  Dare. Check out our website at www.get-guam.com or drop us a line to help us do our part to grow this important industry.

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.