Tenorio said Nick Pula, director of the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior, will be here along with a group of engineers from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“They will talk to the governor and the Legislature about the problems (at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.) and hopefully come up with some recommendations on how to help us,” said Tenorio.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said they welcome the visit and expressed hope that it would result in a better understanding of the CNMI’s situation.
This month, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial declared a state of emergency, citing the poor condition of the engines at Power Plant 1 as reason.
The move allows him to suspend procurement rules in awarding power supply contracts.
CUC Executive Director Tony Muna said the executive order aims to seal the contract with the U.K.-based Aggreko International Power Projects Ltd. which will provide CUC 15-megawatt generators for a year.
Tenorio said if the governor’s catastrophic scenario at Power Plant 1 is imminent, then the facility should be shut down.
“That’s the most prudent thing to do, to prevent any potential major and irreparable damage,” he added.
The OIA has five recommendations that can help the CNMI improve its energy situation:
• Conduct feasibility studies to determine whether coal fired units should be incorporated on its fossil-powered generators.
• Establish a mass transit system using small fuel-efficient, privately owned buses.
• Implement a rate adjustment to recover the local utility firm’s capital.
• Enact a law making theft of electricity a crime.
• Explore the possibility of using solar and wind as energy sources on the islands.
