CHCC, Rota Office of Aging, 10 others awarded $4.3M in funding to lower electricity spending
Twelve CNMI agencies and projects, including the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., Rota Office of Aging, and Tinian Public Library, were awarded on Monday a total of $4.3 million federal funding intended to lower their electricity spending.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) disclosed in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend that the $4,391,599 in total Energizing Insular Communities funding will help end the Marianas’ dependence on expensive and dirty fossil fuel.
For solar photovoltaics, CHCC was awarded $909,291; Rota Office of Aging (26kW), $262,907; Tinian Public Library (48kW), $232,718; Executive Office Building (186 kW), $646,891; and Northern Marianas Technical Institute (53 kW), $450,000.
The Department of Corrections was awarded $443,691 for 286 kW; Rota solar street lights, $211,727; Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center (41kW), $174,291; and Saipan/Northern Islands Municipal Council (5kW), $65,641.
The Division of Energy Appliance Rebate Program was awarded $363,061, while the CNMI Energy Task Force and Commonwealth Assistance for Renewable Energy received $316,005 and $315,176, respectively.
The U.S. Congress appropriated the Energizing Insular Communities funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, Public Law 117-328.
Sablan has been working year after year to increase this funding stream.
The CNMI received $15.5 million in fiscal year 2023, which was the largest amount ever.
Sablan said the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2024 budget recommended continuing at that level as has the Democratic-controlled Senate, but the House Republicans want to cut $6.5 million from the program.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan
