“It is the governor’s responsibility to request federal assistance in an emergency,” Tenorio said. “However, I do not see this happening and we simply cannot allow the situation to worsen. It is my responsibility to make sure that the federal government and the Congress are fully informed as to this situation, and I have conducted numerous meetings this week to do just that. It is the responsibility of the CNMI’s elected leaders to take responsibility and action to find the means to alleviate this power crisis. This is not about which of us has a better plan, it is about resolving the problem. It is very frustrating and inhumane for our people to be continually victimized by superficial and band aid approach by the governor in response to this serious and humanitarian crisis.”
According to Tenorio, “It is not just the fact that we have suffered through frequent recurring power outages, although that is bad enough, and I hope that the leased Aggreko generators provide some relief; but it is also the growing number of families that cannot afford electricity and have opted to be disconnected. We need help.”
Tenorio said the CNMI’s power crisis “is a threat to public health, education and the welfare of the people. We will continue to see businesses close and tourism decline. Daily peak demand has dropped 5 megawatts since July, which to me is indicative of a further loss of customers. The goal should be serving the people and providing sufficient and affordable power with an efficient and dependable power plant. We can then begin to meaningfully explore alternative energy sources.”
Tenorio said he supports the local initiative to petition the president to invoke the Stafford Act.
“The Federal Emergency Management Administration has the authority to mobilize other federal agencies and resources,” he added. “I have additionally urged the Legislature to pass a resolution requesting this assistance. My conversations with FEMA have indicated that it does not matter the cause of the disaster, only its affect on human life.”
Tenorio said the U.S. Congress and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne “are very supportive and looking for ways they can help. Of course the easiest thing anyone can do is for the governor to validate his own local Declaration of a State of Disaster Emergency by requesting the president of the United States to issue a similar declaration.”
