The story is that a big electric pump is needed to bring up water from the aquifer to water the grass at the new cemetery. We have 85 inches of rain a year here and the grass grows pretty well on its own. If the powers that be think they need to water the grass anyway why not do what farmers do all over the world and put up a wind mill? A wind driven pump would work just fine there as it is often the windiest spot on the island. They are cheap and readily available and don’t mar the whole landscape as above ground power poles and transmission lines do.
The power lines could be placed underground, a stand alone generator could be used, a solar power system could be used, a wind generator could be used or a windmill as mentioned above could be used. All but the underground and solar options are cheaper than above ground transmission lines. If electric power is really needed there why spend huge sums of money to do it wrong?
Are we raping the visual environment of our last remaining natural tourist sites just so we can use some of the ill-gotten “free” money the U.S. tempts us with? If they gave us $30 million to poison our drinking water would we use it? If they said build a road or a ponding basin where the Susupe cathedral is now would we do it? Where do we draw the line with the “free” money provided by the feds?
Here is my fear: The size of the poles being installed tells me they may not being erected to power a water pump and a light in the men’s room. These poles are the big ones used to run high voltage, high tension power lines. That tells me there may be a larger behind-the-scenes plan involved. What is it?
If the plan is to electrify Marpi for future commercial development then we need to draw a line in the sand and protect that line with everything we have or else see Saipan turn into the featureless sprawl found elsewhere that tourists avoid like the plague.
If the plan is to develop homesteads on that or on nearby property, then I will remove my name from the no-poles petition and myself from the fight to stop the electrification project. If that is the case, the answer needs to be provided by those NMD’s qualified to receive homestead land, not by me alone or by non-NMDs no matter how proper we think our motives are. But if the real reason for doing this is to develop homesteads, why not disclose that to the public now? This is a time for truthful disclosure not for hidden agendas.
So to recap: if the project is really to water the cemetery then STOP the above ground power poles NOW! Do it responsibly using an alternative method. If it is for some other reason then disclose that reason NOW so we, the stakeholders, voters, legislators and residents can make appropriate judgments and recommendations.
REP. STANLEY T. TORRES
17th CNMI Legislature
