In a meeting at the Commonwealth Health Center on Thursday, Division of Energy program manager Lorraine Seman said the program will be available on Saipan first but will be extended to Tinian and Rota through another federal stimulus grant.
“The residents of Tinian and Rota will be given the same opportunities but for now, the program is not yet full scale and be concentrated on Saipan first,” Seman said.
Oct. 30 was declared as Weatherization Assistance Program Day in a proclamation signed by Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos last week.
The residential energy efficiency program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy is designed to help low income families by reducing energy dependency, improving the environment and stimulating economic development in low-income communities.
It is also designed to have more energy-efficient, safe and healthy homes under local agencies such as the Department of Public Works and its Energy Division.
Weatherization services will be extended to primary owned dwellings of qualified applicants which include elderly persons, (60 years and older), family or persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and household with a high energy burden.
More information can be found at the newly launched web site of the Division of Energy, www.cnmienergy.com.
Last month, U.S. Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan announced that the CNMI had been awarded $318,082 for weatherization assistance to low-income families. He said the commonwealth was expected to spend up to $6,500 to weatherize each home.
