Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Announces $10 Million in EIC Grants and Collaboration with Energy to Support the Territories

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) has announced $9,998,823 in Energizing Insular Community grants for the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). OIA has also signed an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide technical assistance in support of the territories’ continued efforts to deploy clean energy systems, improve energy security and resilience, reduce energy costs, and diversify away from dependence on petroleum-based fuels.

“The Biden-Harris administration prioritizes energy efficiency and resiliency for all Americans including the territories,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. “We look forward to working closely with NREL in supporting the territories’ energy needs in 2022 and beyond.”

Through this partnership with NREL, OIA is helping the territories update and implement existing energy action plans which the House Appropriations Committee called for in House Report 116-100 and will help OIA meet reporting requirements for the study of electric rates in the Insular Areas under 48 US Code 1492a. Congress called for OIA to help the territories reduce reliance and expenditures on imported fuels, develop and utilize domestic energy sources, improve the performance of energy infrastructure, and strengthen overall energy efficiency and resiliency for these island communities.

The Energizing Insular Community grants approved for fiscal year 2022 are as follows:

EIC grants totaling $3,272,277 to benefit Guam are:

• $1,539,436 for the University of Guam (UOG) to install two carport structures with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and build ten level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Chamorro Village and on the UOG campus.
• $700,841 for the Guam Power Authority to do an LED lighting retrofit and install a solar PV system at the Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary School.
• $594,000 for the Guam Community College to install a 100kW grid-tied PV system.
• $438,000 for the Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) to acquire six electric vehicles for its transportation fleet.

EIC grants totaling $3,285,120 to benefit the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are:

• $1,408,000 for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation to design and build a 176kW solar PV carpark structure.
• $1,182,600 to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) for the following:
  • Design a 1.2MW solar PV panel and battery storage integrated facility including soil percolation tests and other environmental assessments for NEPA clearance
  • Contract with one renewable energy manager and two renewable energy engineers to provide direct/onsite support as CUC integrates renewable energy.
  • Conduct a communications evaluations study on monitoring and control systems on the CUC network to prepare for solar PV grid system integration.
• $694,520 to the Office of the Governor for the following:
  • Install solar-powered LED lights at the Tinian Children’s Park.
  • Install solar-powered light systems at 15 coastal pavilions and parks on Saipan.
  • Install solar-powered light systems at 10 concrete multi-use pavilions around the island of Rota.
  • Support the CNMI Energy Task Force Renewables-Technical Development program.

EIC grants totaling $3,441,426 to benefit the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are:

• $1,915,790 to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) for:
  • Acquisition of two hybrid bucket trucks for the VIWAPA fleet and related training.
  • Acquisition of ten electric pickup trucks for the VIWAPA fleet, installation of charging stations, and related training.
• $900,000 to the Virgin Island Energy Office to procure four light commercial electric vehicles (EV) and battery storage coupled EV chargers.
• $625,636 to the University of the Virgin Islands to acquire electric golf carts and install solar EV charging stations. Funds will also purchase bicycles, charging docks and other street appurtenances to launch a pilot electric bicycle program on the campus.

The latest energy reports from the territories and more information about the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Energizing Insular Communities program can be found at https://www.doi.gov/oia/energizing-insular-communities.

The Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. OIA also administers a discretionary Technical Assistance Program for all the insular areas. Find information about OIA and its work on www.doi.gov/oia, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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