Isley Field power plant eyed as back up for water, sewer facilities

Plans are underway to restore the Isley Field Power Plant for use as an emergency back up for water and sewer pump stations and facilities.

The Babauta administration, which currently controls the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. pursuant to the May 19 state of emergency declaration, said a proposed action plan was in place for the power plant restoration.

The proposal entails removing the plant’s old engines, cleaning up the site, and refurbishing the existing fuel storage tank located on the southeast corner of the site.

The administration and CUC are also looking at installing one 1.7-megawatt Detroit diesel generator, one 1.8-megawatt Caterpillar generator, and one 1.6-megawatt refurbished Caterpillar generator in one of the buildings at the power plant.

CUC has reportedly started soliciting quotations from contractors to provide labor, materials, and equipment for building the necessary foundations for generators, exhaust systems, and radiators, as well as the installation of a grounding system.

“The implementation of the proposed action plan will result in the provision of an additional power generation capacity of 5 megawatts serving the area of Papago, San Vicente, Dandan, Isley water wells, airport area, and Koblerville,” said Gov. Juan N. Babauta. “[I]n emergency situations and during typhoons, this plant could be used to either support the main plant or run on its own if required due to a shutdown of main power generation facilities.”

Efforts are also ongoing to restore Power Plant II to enable CUC to have the much-needed back-up power generation capacity.

Although the Lower Base power plant would provide CUC additional 15 megawatts, it would be insufficient to allow the operation of water and sewer facilities.

“The administration and CUC management, therefore, are in the process of assessing the viability of restoring Power Plant III…for immediate use as an emergency back up for CUC’s water and sewer pump stations and facilities,” said Babauta.

Power Plant III is located at Isley Field near the Saipan International Airport.

It was originally constructed in 1993 to ensure emergency power could be supplied to the major water aquifier pump station, and if necessary, to the airport during times of disaster, Babauta noted.