More than $63M awarded to Guam to reduce carbon footprint and power bills

The push for clean energy in Guam is getting tens of millions of dollars with more than $63 million from the federal government.

On May 13, Adelup officials announced $1.6 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for “energy efficiency conservation projects.”

The program is administered by the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy. It is the culmination of a formula grant application prepared and submitted by the Guam Energy Office.

Dandan solar farm. Photo courtesy Guam Energy Office

The grant follows an announcement for $62.4 million to Guam for Solar for All, which Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero said will help with efforts to reduce energy use, lower emissions, and promote energy efficiency in government buildings and facilities. It promotes sustainability and reduces the carbon footprint.

The government plans to “install solar technology, including solar panels and solar LED lights, across selected government agencies, and converting current lighting systems to solar LED in parks and community-accessible locations,” according to Lt. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio. The potential projects are being identified by the Mayor’s Council of Guam.

According to the press release, solar projects listed as a priority include facilities that house programs and services for Guam’s youth, manåmko’, and homeless population. “Additionally, solar LED lighting project locations are prioritized in areas that are frequented by the community for daily exercise routines, such as the Paseo Loop in Hagåtña, the Dededo Sports Complex walking path, and various parks within the villages,” added Guam Energy Office (GEO) Executive Director Rebecca Respicio.

Respicio added that her team is partnering with Guam Power Authority personnel “to conduct energy assessments at all project locations and to ensure that all installations provide the highest efficiency outputs as we work towards Guam’s path to 100% renewables by 2045.”

Meanwhile, the $62.4 million under the U.S. EPA’s Solar for All program aims to help low and moderate-income households across Guam access renewable energy solutions through low-interest loans. Funding for this award should be available by September 2024.

“The Solar for All program will focus on homeowners who have long been excluded from harnessing the benefits of solar energy due to financial constraints. By leveraging a unique combination of energy efficiency audits, weatherization support, and facilitated access to solar through an advantageous loan program, participating households will witness a substantial reduction in their monthly electricity bills,” the governor said. “This initiative presents an opportunity for households to save on their energy expenses and generate revenue by selling surplus solar electricity back to Guam’s power utility. This symbiotic relationship strengthens the local grid infrastructure while advancing Guam’s renewable energy mandate, paving the way for a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.”

Tenorio said the administration will be working with leadership at the Guam Energy Office, the Guam Power Authority, our business community, and non-profit partners.
Respicio said her team will work directly with applicants “to help them realize a 20% savings” on power bills. Working with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability, the beneficiary population eligible for this project will be identified, GPA will conduct an energy audit at each household and recommend updates that would decrease energy cost and reduce the loan amount needed.

Residents then go to the Guam Economic Development Authority for an affordable loan program.

In addition, some families may be eligible for grants or subsidies that lower loan amounts depending on their income and starting energy bill, Respicio said.
For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-7-billion-solar-all-grants-deliver-residential. mbj

More than $63M awarded to Guam to reduce carbon footprint and power bills