Tamuning property will offer power bonus for tenants through a solar energy grant

BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff

Prominently situated on Marine Corps Drive, the Park Place Business Center is almost completely full of tenants, according to its owner. 

Aside from its location, the business will soon offer tenants a reduction in power costs with the addition of solar power at Park Place. 

Derrick Muna Quinata, president and CEO of Monster Auto Corp., which does business as Guam Auto Spot and also owns Park Place. The former Northwest Plaza complex was purchased in July 2022, according to Journal files.

Tenants include IT&E, MacTech Guam and Sixt Rent a Car Guam – a sister company to Guam Auto Spot.  Most recently the 24-hour August supermarket opened at Park Place. 

Securing tenants has not been difficult, Quinata told the Journal. “It’s difficult to get good space in Tamuning,” he said. The units are filling up, with one or two tenancies to complete a full building. Quinata said he is pending one additional tenant, which is a Government of Guam agency, but also has a list of pending businesses. “Interest is high. There are multiple tenants waiting in the wings.”

Quinata secured a Rural Energy for America Program grant of $1 million, which offered a solar subsidy for commercial enterprises. The REAP grant covers installation of solar at both Park Place and the East Hagåtña dealership of Guam Auto Spot. 

The solar installation is nearly complete, he said. “It’s a process. Most of the construction and inspection has been completed.” 

Once the net metering with the Guam Power Authority is established and calculated, Quinata said he will extend savings to the tenants. “They’ll be getting power at a discount.”

Additionally, he said, “We will be installing complimentary EV charging for our customers.”

As to the auto market, Quinata said it continues to be volatile, despite tariffs not affecting sales. Guam Auto Spot carries Buick GMC and Mitsubishi brands among its stock. 
Quinata said the dealership has seen an increase in secondhand sales. “Overall, we’ve done extremely well”, he said. For Mitsubishi, he said, “We’ve been competitively priced.” mbj