Sablan to oversee project proposals for $5.25M EIC grant
Special assistant for Climate Policy and Planning Christina Sablan has been chosen to serve as the lead and point of contact in the Commonwealth’s coordination and re-submission of project proposals to the Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs for the Energizing Insular Communities grant.
Last month, Insular and International Affairs assistant secretary Carmen Cantor wrote to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios informing him that the Office of Insular Affairs was unable to award the CNMI over $5 million under the Energizing Insular Communities grant program for failure to respond to multiple criteria.
The EIC grant would ultimately help the CNMI achieve its renewable energy and energy efficiency goals.
In a memorandum to Cabinet members, Palacios designated Sablan to be his point of contact and lead in the resubmission of this grant application.
“I have directed Ms. Sablan to work closely with the CNMI agencies and our technical advisors at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to address OIA’s concerns and ensure that the CNMI’s proposals meet all criteria required by the notice of funding opportunity, including consultation with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and sufficient details regarding project goals and implementation. Please extend your timely responses and full cooperation to Ms. Sablan as she assumes this responsibility. I note that revised and new project proposals are due to OIA no later than Dec. 15, 2024,” said Palacios.
According to Cantor’s letter, after review and consideration, in consultation with a subject matter expert review panel, OIA was unable to award funding for the projects as proposed by the applicants from the CNMI.
“OIA remains committed to assisting the CNMI in achieving its renewable energy and energy efficiency goals and is reserving $5.25 million of the FY 2024 EIC funds through Dec. 15, 2024 for current proposals once fully developed or for new proposal which implement local energy plans. OIA has requested that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory assist the CNMI government and the CUC with this task,” said Cantor.
Cantor explains that overall, the applications submitted failed to respond to multiple criteria required by the notice of funding opportunity, including consultation with the local utility and sufficient details regarding project goals and implementation.
“This was especially true of the proposals for grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems. These proposals did not acknowledge or demonstrate consultation between the applicant and the utility, CUC, regarding grid interconnection requirements. This is of great concern, as OIA has previously funded utility scale PV systems in the CNMI that have been unable to be commissioned due to insufficient consultation with CUC. This complaint was most recently reiterated during the 2024 Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop,” she said.
Cantor said the NREL team, headed by Philip Voss, are standing by to work with the CNMI to develop these projects for award and implementation.
“Revised and newly proposed project proposals are due no later than Dec. 15, 2024,” Cantor said.
Christina M. Sablan
