Pacific Power Association Executive Director Gordon Chang, left, and Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Acting Executive Director Betty Terlaje pose for a photo following a press conference on Friday at Crowne Plaza.
“TECHNOLOGY and Finance Readiness for a Green, Sustainable and Resilient Power System Network,” is this year’s theme of the 30th Pacific Power Association Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition.
The four-day event will be hosted by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation from Sept. 25 to 28 at the Hibiscus Hall of Crowne Plaza Resort.
PPA’s objective is to “improve the quality of power in the region through a cooperative effort among utilities, private sectors, and regional aid donors.”
PPA’s members “pool their resources and expertise for their common benefit, gain international representation, and improve access to international power sector assistance programs.”
According to PPA Executive Director Gordon Chang, they have 25 utility members from 19 Pacific islands.
“We also have commercial members, folks that sell engines, innovations, or consultants — any organization that has to do with utility. Right now, we have 82 commercial members. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we had 156, but they are slowly coming back as the islands have been opening up,” Chang said in an interview Friday afternoon.
He said 18 utility members will be attending the conference on Saipan. “We are hitting close to 200 people — the number we have is 198 participants not including [those] from [CUC],” he added.
This will be the third time CUC is hosting a PPA conference, CUC Acting Executive Director Betty Terlaje said.
“The first time was in the 90s, the second one was in 2001 — 22 years ago,” she added.
“We are very grateful to PPA for choosing us to be the host this year. We were concerned from the beginning because of the distance and the cost of airfare, and then the fact that we only have limited flights coming to the CNMI,” Terlaje said.
“Although things have changed in CUC, the vision to make this conference successful did not change, and we continue to meet with PPA and Mr. Chang, to make sure that we set that bar high,” she added.
“CUC is very happy to host the PPA conference, and it will also strengthen our partnership with PPA and the members. In times of need, we can reach out to them or work with PPA to find someone who can help us face our challenges,” Terlaje said.
“Every year we try to send CUC representatives to PPA workshops and conferences and they bring back solutions or ideas we could research and improve. With this year’s green theme, everybody is wanting to grab on to all that information. We are definitely looking into renewables. Whatever we gain out of the conference is definitely an advantage, and appreciated,” she added.
During the conference, PPA will also conduct workshops for utility boards and engineers, as well as a two-day trade exhibition.
“Commercial partners come with the most modern equipment they show to the utility members and engineers. We will have the trade exhibitions in the evenings after the workshops,” Chang said.
In addition, 15 speakers with varied expertise in the power industry are scheduled to deliver presentations at the event.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios is listed as the chief guest and will officially open the conference and trade exhibition Tuesday morning, Sept. 26.
