Torres says CUC board should make decision on IRP ‘soon’
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres will be meeting with board members of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. next week to get updates on the utilities company’s Integrated Resource Plan.
According to Torres, the last time he had an update with the CUC board was “about a month ago.”
“I know that they are going to be making some adjustments. We’ll be meeting them sometime next week,” Torres said.
When asked if he is giving the board a timeline or pressure in making a decision on the IRP—which was supposed help CUC “choose feasible, cost-effective, and reliable resources for their power generation and has been in the works since 2014—Torres said it should not be “this year” but “soon.”
However, Torres also said he wanted the board to think of the best decision.
“I want to give them the opportunity to do what is best,” Torres said. “There is a short- and long-term goal. This is very critical. I don’t want to force them to make decisions that are not well thought out.”
“We continue to look into it in detail. Once the decision is made, then we’ll expedite the course of action,” he added.
Torres said they are also looking into buying new generators for CUC.
“I want to get brand new generators. I want to increase our engines up to 50 megawatt. We’re looking into purchasing generators and we’re seeing what’s available out there,” Torres said.
Asked where they will get the money for additional generators, Torres said they will look at funding opportunities such as the mitigation program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, loans, bonding, or even the private sector if they can contribute.
“Our end goal is to provide utilities that are cheaper and more efficient engines,” Torres said.
He added that new developments coming online that will be hooking up with CUC is also a concern.
“We are concerned that’s why it’s a great opportunity for them to build up after Typhoon Soudelor and working together with the private sector,” Torres said.
Torres also said that he met with CUC acting executive director Gary Camacho to discuss the water status in the CNMI particularly in Saipan.
“We want to have a blueprint of where we’re at,” Torres said.
The IRP should be used to make the decision on whether or not to get new generators.
First this board is totally incapable of understanding and making any responsible realistic decisions on anything to do with power generation (except one)..
Torres states also states “he” wants to get new generators and increase to 50 MW.” Why is that number thrown out?
How much additional power output will be needed IF all of the proposed development is actually completed?
Also BS already stated that they plan on putting up a 100 MW commercial solar system while at the same time making a seemingly surprise announcement that they will hook up to the grid. (Which they are required to do so)
I would be willing to bet that BS will be running on their own diesel “back up” diesel generators if/when they complete their proposed development..
What private sector would ever invest “with the Govt” in any new generators when this Govt. does not pay it’s power bills (or any obligation)
What US Govt. agency would be involved with new generators when this Govt. cannot (will not) comply with Fed mandates and reststs the Feds on all areas?
Does anyone at CUC or the NMI Govt.even realize the current cost for a new oil fired power plant that will have to comply with todays Fed requirements?
Seems this Gov. is moving into past Fitial’s attempted back door deal involving a new pwer plant. How manny $mills was that?? More pie in the sky!
On reflection it seems the Board is intentionally dragging its feet in order to diminish the value of the IRP down to a report that was created but has no value. We cannot let this board of incompetents road block the IRP! We need a direction and if they are too incompetent to understand the report they should step aside and let somebody who is actually qualified make the decisions for them. The longer this sits on their desks while they micromanage the utility the further down the road of a FAILED utility company we go.