{"id":365283,"date":"2022-03-30T06:01:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T20:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=365283"},"modified":"2022-03-30T06:01:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T20:01:33","slug":"camacho-cucs-renewable-energy-plan-still-in-the-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/camacho-cucs-renewable-energy-plan-still-in-the-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Camacho: CUC\u2019s renewable energy plan still in the works"},"content":{"rendered":"
CUC executive director Gary P. Camacho. (LEIGH GASES)
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The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will soon be doing an research study that will determine the type of power plant the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota will need, with a great emphasis on renewable energy, according to CUC executive director Gary P. Camacho.<\/p>\n

He said the research study will be a comprehensive decision-support mechanism that creates a long-term roadmap using financial modeling and technical analysis to determine the best options for supplying electricity over the long run at the least possible cost on Saipan and Rota. It will be funded by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. through the U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development.<\/p>\n

Camacho said they want to continue to have these studies and review them to ensure that they acquire the latest technology and the most appropriate and efficient and effective equipment for the CNMI\u2019s power supply, moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CUC already has an Integrated Resource Plan that was adopted in a board meeting last year. That Integrated Resource Plan, Camacho said, tells CUC to prepare a diesel power plant with 10 megawatts of solar power. <\/p>\n

The upcoming study will tell CUC \u201cthe type of power plant, how much solar, or if wind is something to be considered, battery storage, or diesel, all of those are going to be studied and then provide us with the best-case scenarios and multiple different options,\u201d added Camacho.<\/p>\n

When asked if it\u2019s possible for the CNMI to be on 100% renewable energy, Camacho said it is not possible. \u201cLet\u2019s just say you\u2019ve got 10% of the island demand, which would be 3 megawatts because the peak demand is 3.7\u2026so, 3% of 10% is three megawatts. \u2026Then you have a cloud come over and you lose 10% of your demand. \u2026When you lose 10%, something has to produce power, which is the power plant,\u201d said Camacho. The change goes from renewable energy to power plant, and Camacho said that if this goes on all day it will hurt the engines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Camacho said there are many factors that a system has to be prepared for to ensure that nothing is jeopardized. In any consideration for a new power plant, CUC is always looking for renewable energy. He added that they had an Integrated Resource Plan that was performed a while back, but now they have a new IRP that includes renewable energy. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be designing our power platform with consultants and experts in the field, and we\u2019re going to make it clear that we want to maximize renewable energies and expand our portfolio,\u201d said Camacho. A new IRP needs to be done again because the study has a lifespan of about five to six years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Camacho added that renewable energy is something he wants to prioritize, and that CUC is always interested in maximizing. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a system that\u2019s somewhat aged as far as production is concerned\u2026so, we would just always work on ensuring that although we\u2019ve been accepting renewables, we want to make sure that we have a system. It\u2019s our responsibility to ensure that any penetration does not negatively impact our power supply,\u201d
\nsaid Camacho.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When asked what Camacho thinks will happen as a result of the study, he said a \u201cdetermination based on conditions, locations, seasons, and demand is a wide range but I\u2019m excited because the new technologies that are available today and the advancements of old technologies, such as greater efficiency on diesel, greater efficiency on battery storage and greater efficiency on solar and wind. There\u2019s wind towers that can be adjusted and brought down due to storms or tilted down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lastly, he said there\u2019s a variety of different things that will be determined in the study but the experts and consultants or any responsible qualified firm will be working closely with CUC and stakeholders on the type of power plant that will be built in the future. \u201cAt the end of that study, of course, will be a list of different types of options based on scoring. And we\u2019ll go forward with that direction,\u201d Camacho added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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