The move will also allow CUC to expedite its work on a structurally unsound fuel tank at Power Plant 1, which is near the lagoon.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial first declared the islands under a state of emergency in August. This was extended last month and again on Sunday for another 31 days under Executive Order 2008-17.
In his five-page E.O., the governor said although the rented generators from the U.K.-based Aggreko International Power Projects Ltd. are already producing more electricity for Saipan, rolling blackouts are imminent if they are taken offline to comply with certain environmental standards.
Aggreko provides up to 15 megawatts of energy and two more containerized generators of the company will be hooked up to CUC’s main power system soon.
“CUC desires to comply with environmental and land use regulations but fears that the lack of permits or the permitting process would postpone or eliminate the in-service date, and uninterrupted service for Aggreko’s power generating equipment,” the governor said.
He added: “In particular, taking Aggreko’s units off line, while undergoing the time and expense of computer modeling of the emissions of Lower Base power plants could plunge Saipan into renewed rolling blackouts.”
According to the E.O., CUC’s tank 104 must be emptied of its used oil before a major typhoon hits Saipan and spills oil into the ocean.
Fitial said CUC does not have the capability to carry out the removal of the used oil and must contract for these services.
“There are 2,800 sealed barrels of used oil nearby which must also be removed. The removal must comply with federal environmental law…. This declaration is still necessary to protect the health and safety of our children, our senior citizens, businesses and all other CNMI residents and visitors,” he said.
His E.O. exempts CUC from the Public Utilities Commission review or approval of contracts relating to the supply of power or operation of CUC’s maintenance system.
It also empowers CUC to procure “as soon as practicable the necessary technical expertise and other labor, parts and materials to remedy the failings of its Chalan Kiya distribution facilities.”
It further mandates CUC to speed up contractual work for the removal of used oil from its defective fuel tank.
