Project officers Pat Saito and Britt Hinnen met with Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos, Secretary of Public Works Martin Sablan, Energy Division Director Thelma Inos, acting Secretary of Finance, Larissa Larson along with Treasury Division and Federal Grants Section personnel as well as Michael Ada, ARRA state lead, to work out the details of administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds designated for renewable energy alternatives and energy conservation.
The project officers were on island to conduct their first monitoring visit and assess the progress of various projects to be funded by the grant.
One such visit included a trip to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to view particular projects such as the radiator and engine retrofits funded by the grant.
Other projects on their agenda included viewing plans to help extend the life of the island’s landfill through studying the fuel potential of the current waste and to convert that waste to energy.
The $9.5 million grant, which is part of the ARRA, will be used to fund various energy programs throughout the CNMI as well.
Some projects currently underway include the Energy Star Rebate Program and the Residential Weatherization Program.
Other programs in the works include implementing a residential recycling program, cool roof program, and installation of PV panels to government offices, to name a few.
For further information regarding any of the grants programs, call the Energy Division at 670-664-4480/1 or visit the website at www.cnmienergy.com. You can also e-mail your questions, comments, or concerns to [email protected].
