by Ronna Sweeney, KUAM News Monday, June 02, 2008 E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

At the Guam Power Authority thinking green is being put into their Integrated Resource Plan. From solar, wind, biomass and water energy, GPA is looking long-term for renewable resources and fuel diversity. In past reports, we've already told you how GPA's Integrated Resource Plan aims to lessen reliance on fossil fuels over the next decade. Both external and internal stakeholders have played a major role in developing the IRP - one of the most talked about options you've probably heard about in terms of renewable energy is through wind turbines.

Strategic Planning and Operations Research Division manager John Cruz says they have a deadline of December 2009 to award a contract for wind farms and other renewables. Another renewable resource option in the plan is seawater air conditioning. "You pump the water in and there's two ways. You can either have a sea water loop or you can use a heat exchanger to cool freshwater and that would be distributed throughout Tumon," Cruz said.

Besides renewables, another integral part of the IRP deals with fuel diversification. In order to lessen reliance on diesel, Cruz says GPA is endorsing a strategy that would bring liquefied natural gas to Guam. "LNG will produce half the greenhouse gases that say a coal plant would. It's even significantly less than a fuel oil fired plant," he said.

Perhaps what GPA would like to stress most about the IRP is that shifting to more eco-friendly power will be beneficial for everyone on Guam. Cruz notes that they're working on customer outreach to provide online energy audits for commercial and residential consumers by teaming up with trade allies who provide energy star products. "People would be able to go on this website with a history of their bills and the current equipment that they have and be able to come up with investments that they can make in order to save energy," concluded Cruz.