‘Generators are too little too late’

The planning of a word-of-mouth rally to get the federal government involved in solving Saipan’s power crisis is underway, even as the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. released a new load shedding schedule yesterday.

Approximately 29 megawatts of power were produced yesterday afternoon, with CUC producing 14.5 megawatts at Power Plants 1 and 2, the most that has been produced in the last few weeks. The increase in power allowed CUC to reduce the outages to two hours a day for one time during a 24-hour period for most locations. The Aggreko generators, producing 15 megawatts, are expected to be turned on Friday and reach full capacity by Sept. 16 or 17.

But local businessman Ed Propst said it’s too little too late, and the emergency generators are just a band-aid solution.

“It is clear to us that after millions of dollars have been pumped into CUC, it is at its all time worst,” he said.

A rally is planned for Sept. 17 to bring attention to the problems plaguing CUC, Propst said. Text messages have been flowing throughout the island with the news. Propst is also sending e-mails, calling friends, writing letters, and visiting neighborhoods to get the word out.

Propst is seeking federal intervention under the Stafford Act, a law that allows for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to request federal intervention during times of a major disaster.

The governor of the affected state must make the request stating that the magnitude of the disaster is beyond the capabilities of the local and state government.

On Aug. 1, Gov. Benigno Fitial declared a state of disaster emergency for the CNMI, citing that one of the power engines at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Power Plant 1 in Lower Base could explode at any time, maiming or killing power plant workers. Fitial extended the declaration last week for 31 days.

Propst does not think all CUC employees are to blame, though, he said.

“I’ve found a lot of people at CUC are competent,” he said. “The front line people are the glue that is holding it together. It’s the management that is incompetent.”

The rally is being held on Sept. 17 because it is U.S. Citizenship Day, he said.

“At the end of the day, we’re still Americans,” he added. “Although we’re thousands of miles away, these are deplorable conditions we’re living in. The fact of the matter is this is a humanitarian disaster.”

Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, said Fitial’s emergency declaration has expedited the arrival of the Aggreko generators, and the governor has a long-term plan, including privatization and alternative power sources, for CUC once the emergency generators stabilize the power.

A press conference for the rally is scheduled today at 3:30pm at the Garapan Fishing base, while the rally is scheduled for 5:30pm, Sept. 17, at the same location.