2,500 Homes to Harness the Sun’s Energy Through New Grant

Epiphanio E. Cabrera Jr., the state clearinghouse administrator for the Office of Grants Management (OGM), recently stated that a massive $25 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could benefit up to 2,500 homes through the implementation of residential rooftop solar power.

During a Monday interview, Cabrera detailed his ongoing communications with the federal grantor following his Friday announcement of the grant during the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s (CUC) regular board meeting. His announcement has sparked several queries from community members, primarily about the potential for a “buyback program” for individuals who have taken out loans to install solar panels on their homes.

Cabrera relayed community concerns, saying, “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.” Other community questions centered around program eligibility for non-U.S. citizens and individuals who are renting or have leaseholds on properties.

Notably, there were also queries about “solar hosting” – its impact on the power grid and on CUC, and the possibility of government agencies’ participation in the program. Cabrera assured that he is actively seeking answers to these questions.

Cabrera had earlier informed the CUC board that the implementation of the residential solar power program would indeed have a fiscal impact on CUC. The program is designed to generate 25 megawatts of power, all earmarked for residential customers, with a distribution of at least 10 kilowatts per household.

He cautioned that this significant addition to CUC’s base load could create a ripple effect on fuel costs and fuel delivery to Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Cabrera said CUC would be “hit hard” by these changes.

When asked to comment, CUC Board Chair Janice Tenorio acknowledged the potential revenue loss for CUC but was optimistic, saying, “The grant is good news for the community — it’s good for the end users as it will allow for savings.”

An anonymous CUC official conceded that the program’s impact was yet to be determined but noted, “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 revealed that the grant is expected to be awarded in July 2024, providing ample time for all questions to be addressed and for comprehensive planning to occur.