CRM asks Tinian Dynasty to use island power or pay fine
The Coastal Resources Management has asked Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino to hook up with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. or face a fine amounting to $5,000 a day.
According to Acting CRM director Peter Barlas, Tinian Dynasty was given 45 days to comply with the notice which was given on December 21, 1999. A condition given to Tinian Dynasty before the construction of the hotel casino was to connect with the island power.
CUC Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez had earlier requested Tinian Dynasty to use the available island power but the hotel casino management was seeking a one year extension. CUC has already informed CRM that it will not grant its request for extension since it has been more than a year when the utilities firm inaugurated the 10-megawatt plant constructed by Telesource Inc.
Tinian Dynasty is currently using its own generators for the whole casino hotel complex and staff housing facility. Local officials have earlier pressured CUC into expanding its power plant capacity claiming that there was increasing demand for infrastructure on the island, including power, water and public roads, which are mostly targeted for the local casino industry.
The Tinian Legislative Delegation was also seeking the conscutrion of an additional 10 megawatts through a build-operate-transfer scheme while CUC will purchase the generated power supply for its customers on the island.
The Tinian power plant was also built to meet the demand of the Voice of America facility which was expected to reach up to 10 megawatts in the next 10 few years.
