U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Doug Domenech has announced fiscal year 2019 funding under the Energizing Insular Communities program to support a variety of energy retrofitting and efficiency projects that are estimated to provide thousands in savings for the residents of U.S. territories.
“We appreciate that Congress has provided these funds to support energy projects in the U.S. insular areas,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “The cost of fuel in the islands is extremely high and so opportunities to provide efficiencies and diversify sources of energy is important.”
Guam got $1,729,815 in funding to finance several energy-saving projects.
Guam Power Authority received $620,428 to install solar panels on three parking lot canopies at GPA. The solar arrays will be tied to the grid and help offset the cost of day-to-day operations. The panels are estimated to produce 93,072 kilowatt-hours per year, which represents four percent of GPA’s annual energy consumption, and roughly $36,000 in annual savings.
Funds amounting to $586,771 will also go to the Bringing Energy Savings To (BEST) schools program for an LED lighting retrofit at the Agueda I. Johnston Middle School. The BEST program is a collaborative effort between the Guam Power Authority and the Guam Department of Education to find ways to reduce costs of energy consumption at Guam’s public schools. Once the retrofit is completed, Johnston Middle School is expected to realize an annual savings of $49,763 in utility costs.
Finally, $522,616 will fund a BEST schools program LED lighting retrofit at the Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School which is expected to contribute to $38,946 in annual savings for the school.
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