THE CNMI government has until Dec. 15, 2024, to resubmit an application for the Energizing Insular Communities or EIC grant program in the amount of $5.25 million after its initial proposals “did not acknowledge or demonstrate consultation” with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. regarding grid inter-connection requirements.
In her letter to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios last month, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor said: “Unfortunately, after review and consideration, in consultation with a subject matter expert review panel, OIA is unable to award funding for the projects as currently proposed by the applicants from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
Cantor said OIA remains committed to assisting the CNMI in achieving its renewable energy and energy efficiency goals, and is reserving $5.25 million of the fiscal year 2024 EIC funds through Dec. 15, 2024, for current proposals once fully developed or for a new proposal that implements local energy plans.
She said OIA has requested the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to assist the CNMI government and CUC with this task.
Cantor explained that, overall, the applications submitted by the CNMI government “failed to respond to multiple criteria required by the notice of funding opportunity, including consultation with the local utility and sufficient details regarding project goals and implementation.”
“This was especially true of the proposals for grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. These proposals did not acknowledge or demonstrate consultation between the applicant and the utility, CUC, regarding grid interconnection requirements,” Cantor said.
“This is of great concern, as OIA has previously funded utility scale PV systems in the CNMI that have been unable to be commissioned due to insufficient consultation with CUC. This complaint was most recently reiterated during the 2024 Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop,” she added.
She told the governor that the NREL team, headed by Philip Voss, is standing by to work with the CNMI to develop these projects for award and implementation.
She said the revised and newly proposed project proposals are due no later than Dec. 15, 2024.
Point of contact
On Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, the governor issued a memorandum designating his special assistant for climate policy and planning, Tina Sablan, to be his point of contact and lead the CNMI’s coordination and re-submission of project proposals to the OIA for the EIC grant.
“I have directed Ms. Sablan to work closely with the CNMI agencies and our technical advisors at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to address OIA’s concerns and ensure that the CNMI’s proposals meet all criteria required by the notice of funding opportunity, including consultation with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation and sufficient details regarding project goals and implementation,” the governor said, as he asked department heads and cabinet members to extend their timely responses and full cooperation to Sablan as she assumes the responsibility.
“I note that revised and new project proposals are due to OIA no later than Dec. 15, 2024,” the governor said.
