CNMI gets zero from requested $82.1M ‘Solar for All’ grant

The CNMI got zero from its requested $82.-million “Solar for All” grant package to provide solar panel to homes on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, according to Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) yesterday.

In response to Saipan Tribune‘s inquiry, Manglona said unfortunately, at the Senate Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications Committee’s informal meeting yesterday afternoon with Office of Grants Management and State Clearinghouse administrator Epiphanio Cabrera and his staff, the committee was informed that the CNMI was not amongst the 60 successful applicants of the “Solar for All” grant.

Manglona, who chairs the PUTC Committee, said a debriefing between Cabrera and a representative for “Solar for All” program is scheduled for May 21, 2024 when the CNMI will know the final result of OGM’s grant application.

The senator called for the informal meeting after he received information that the CNMI got zero from the “Solar for All” grant.

He said Cabrera confirmed that the CNMI was notified last April 24, 2024 of the decision regarding its grant application.

Manglona said Cabrera stated that OGM will request for a reconsideration.

Manglona said Guam received $60 million from the grant.

Last Tuesday, the PUTC Committee in its report disclosed that Cabrera earlier told the committee that the CNMI is guaranteed at least $25 million out of the requested $82.1 million “Solar for All” grant package to provide solar panels to homes on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

The PUTC Committee informed Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) in the report that the grant is meant to assist 5,000 total homes with rooftop residential solar panels, about 564 homes on Rota, and 580 homes on Tinian based on the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. account numbers.

According to the committee, last March 14, Cabrera provided an overview and updated status of the “Solar for All” grant during an informal meeting with the PUTC Committee.

Cabrera shared that the $82.1-million grant package was submitted last August and that the anticipated award date was March 24, 2024.

Cabrera told the committee that the CNMI may or may not receive the amount requested but is guaranteed at least $25 million.

There is an understanding with the committee that the program is anticipated to come into fruition by August 2024 with households on Rota being the first municipality to realize the “Solar for All” Program as pilot recipients.

The action plan for the grant would depend on how much the Commonwealth is approved to receive.

Cabrera shared that he is the lead for the project and Thomasa Mendiola is the alternate.

The plan is to move Mendiola into an office where she can run the “Solar for All” Program.

If the $82.1-million grant request is approved, OGM will employ 25 personnel for Saipan, four for Tinian, and four for Rota, and all the expenses for assets associated with the project will follow.

OGM is working with NMTech, Department of Labor, and Northern Marianas College to establish a training section for implementing the subject grant.

Cabrera shared that for homes that are not adequately structured for a solar panel, funds are set aside to retrofit them with a steel frame for the solar panels.

Net metering as it relates to the “Solar for All” program was also discussed.

The program will not feed any excess power produced into the CUC grid system for now.

The OGM needs to study the energy generation on Rota because the engineers of an Australian firm determined that only 15% can connect using net metering without any impact on the grid.

The “Solar for All” grant is not contingent on met metering, but the project would take away around 20-24 megawatts from the CUC.

Cabrera shared that there is also a “Climate Pollution Reduction” Grant under the Climate Policy and Planning Program which was due before April 1, 2024.

He shared that more houses can be accommodated under this program because the “Solar for All” program will not provide for every household.

He also shared that batteries are covered under the “Solar for All” program.

The PUTC Committee recommends that the OGM hire a project manager to oversee every aspect of the grant from start to finish.

The committee also recommends that part of the manager’s duties and responsibilities is to ensure that every aspect of the project is active and progressing promptly.

Paul A. Manglona