“I would like to urge the government to move with speed and urgency in allowing alternative energy to be part of the overall [Commonwealth Utilities Corp.] plan,” he said.
He said local leaders have been talking about alternative energy in the past years but it has never been pursued.
The alternative energy source, whether solar or wind, can provide a more reasonable cost of electricity to the people, he added.
He said alternative energy is a “win-win situation” because it is clean energy and will not be costly.
Ayuyu said the primary concern confronting the business community is the high cost of energy.
“That’s one of the biggest issues right now in the CNMI,” he added.
If the cost of electricity continues to increase, more businesses will fold, he said.
“They can’t afford to stay in business,” he added.
CUC’s rate is “extremely high,” he said.
Ayuyu said he is aware that the governor’s office has been trying to attract alternative energy investments to the island.
He noted that a lot of solar energy companies have visited the CNMI.
“But for some reasons they come and they go because we seem unable to make a commitment,” he said.
