A month after the Senate adopted a resolution supporting a waste-to energy venture, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial informed the participants of energy fair in Fairbanks, Alaska that the CNMI government is ready to deal with an investor who will put up a waste recovery and treatment plant that will transform the landfill into a power plant.
As his administration explores the potential of all feasible sources of alternative energy, Fitial said “we have reason to be optimistic.”
He said the average wind velocity over the ocean is higher than that over continents and the solar radiation at the Pacific latitudes is significantly higher than the mainland’s.
He said this is why the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. announced a request for proposal for a10-megawatt photovoltaic generated electricity on Saipan and four-megawatt of the same power generation on Rota and Tinian.
Fitial said the most appealing source of alternative energy is waste-to-energy or pyrolysis-gasification.
This, the governor said, will provide 24/7 base-load power and can resist the destructive forces of strong typhoons that frequently strike the CNMI.
Fitial, who also believes that Saipan is capable of geothermal energy generation, said “we are actively encouraging private investment in waste-to-energy or gasification power generation.”
Senate Resolution 17-59 which was adopted two weeks ago, expressed support for CNMI Eco-Tech LLC., which will put up a waste recovery and treatment plant.
It will collect waste from Saipan, Tinian and Rota and turn it into a reusable material while producing affordable energy.
It also aims to protect the natural environment and help maintain the beauty of the islands.
CNMI Eco-Tech LLC will construct the environmentally friendly plant that will be composed of processing systems on Saipan, Tinian and Rota and a transfer station on Tinian that will streamline the waste system.
This process involves a combination of pyrolysis-gasification, melting and vitrification method to turn waste into reusable by-products and affordable energy.
CNMI EcoTech vice president Herman P. Sablan in a presentation last year said their technology will help the commonwealth save money in operating its landfill and preserve the surrounding public lands for other uses like tourism-oriented projects.
