Recently, Cree Lighting fixtures have arrived on Saipan. These meet U.S. standards and are utilized throughout the national roadway system, Camacho said.
To ensure that they are suitable for the island, a CUC line crew will install the fixtures at a location on Saipan. Electrical engineers will then monitor the field performance of the fixtures for 30 days after which CUC will make a final determination.
Gary P. Camacho
Gary Camacho Camacho said the CNMI streetlight efficiency project aims to replace all high pressure sodium streetlight fixtures with LED fixtures.
The project, he added, is funded by an $847,737 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs.
The grant will allow CUC to implement energy-saving measures for its roadway lighting system.
Phase 1 of the project will focus on Rota, which will receive 561 LED lights, and Tinian, which will receive 258.
Camacho said the project will utilize three streetlight varieties that best apply to the CNMI, which has two-lane roadway, three-lane roadway, and four-lane roadway systems.
He said the funding for subsequent project phases will be solicited through grant proposals.
The power division will work alongside CUC grant administrator Carlo Castro in submitting grant proposals to the U.S. Department of the Interior-OIA for future projects, Camacho said.
