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Proposed bill calls for establishment of commission to study
alternative energy sources
A proposed measure that establishes an Alternate Research Commission to study and evaluate alternative energy sources has been introduced in the local Legislature.
According to the measure, the commission will be composed of seven members representing both the public and private sectors, and their goal is to evaluate the territory’s current electric power supply system and assess its strengths and weaknesses, before providing recommendations and improvements.
Commission members will include representatives from the Department of Commerce, the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, the Territorial Energy Office, and the American Samoa Power Authority.
The three members who will represent the public will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Fono.
The bill allocates $150,000 in excess revenues from fiscal year 2008 to support the commission’s work.
According to the proposed measure, the commission is to consider the requirements and special needs of the Manu’a and Swains Islands, in addition to identifying and considering any other area of the territory which, due to its location, requires specialized treatment in terms of meeting its energy needs.
The proposed bill comes at a time when the issue of soaring electricity rates has become the hottest topic of conversation. Two weeks ago, a measure proposing that ASPA be dissolved, with its assets and operations being returned to the Executive Branch, was defeated in the Senate.
Governor Togiola Tulafono himself has addressed the issue, announcing during his weekend radio program earlier this month that he plans to establish a commission or committee to look for ways to reduce electricity costs, including alternative energy like wind, solar power, and the use of ocean waves.
The Governor said the commission’s findings will be used over a 10-year period to address renewable energy resources for American Samoa, instead of continuance reliance on imported fossil fuel.
He added that while it is true that oil prices will drop, it won’t be that much.
Togiola has reviewed ASPA’s rates and said that while the base rate is lower than before, it is the continued increase in fuel costs that is the major contributing factor to the increase in electric rates.
Meanwhile, ASPA’s Chief Executive Officer and general counsel Michael Keyser said through a statement last week that ASPA management has been working very hard to reduce the costs of electricity and at the end of the month, ASPA will be submitting two grant proposals to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service High Cost of Energy Grant Program.
These are competitive grants, so there is no guarantee they will be funded.
The first proposal is a waste heat recovery and thermal delivery system which, if successful, would result in roughly a 10% annual savings to all residential customers.
The second proposal is a solar power project to help ASPA’s low income customers. Under this project, concentrated solar power (CSP) parabolic troughs would be installed on roughly on acre of land at ASPA’s Tafuna compound.
A comprehensive rate study is now underway and expected to conclude later this year in August. ASPA has retained the services of Economists.com which will analyze all of ASPA’s costs company-wide and form the basis for revised rates.
ASPA is expected to hold multiple public hearings in the coming months to obtain input on the matter, from the public and other leaders.
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