THE state clearinghouse administrator for the Office of Grants Management, Epiphanio E. Cabrera Jr., said 2,500 homes can benefit from the $25 million grant for residential rooftop solar power from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In an interview Monday, Cabrera said he is now in communication with the federal grantor to discuss some of the questions he received after his announcement about the grant on Friday during the public comment section of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s regular board meeting.
He said some community members want to know whether there’s a “buyback program” for the individuals who took a loan for installing solar panels at their homes.
“They are asking if OGM can buy back the loan because they said it’s not fair as they will have to pay for it for 25 years,” Cabrera added.
Others want to know whether non-U.S. citizens and individuals who are renting or have lease holds on property are allowed to participate in the program.
“I also received inquiries about solar hosting…what are the impacts on the power grid and on CUC, and if government agencies are allowed to participate. I am working now on getting the answers,” Cabrera said.
He told the CUC board on Friday that the implementation of the residential solar power program would have a fiscal impact on CUC.
He said the program is expected to generate 25 megawatts, all for residential customers, with at least 10 kilowatts distributed per household.
“That is a big chunk of CUC’s base load and that will have a ripple effect on the cost of fuel and fuel delivery to Rota, Tinian and Saipan,” Cabrera said, adding that CUC will be “hit hard.”
Asked for comment, CUC Board Chair Janice Tenorio said, “The grant is good news for the community — it’s good for the end users as it will allow for savings.”
There will be a little loss of revenue for CUC, she added, but did not elaborate.
Another CUC official who declined to be identified said, “This may have an impact but how much is yet to be determined. Because this is for residential, this will end up being at least a five-year and possibly a 10-year project. There is time to plan. Many questions need to be answered during the planning stages and well before implementation: net metering, grid upgrades, project management, etc.”
Cabrera said the grant will be awarded in July 2024.
