by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - In an effort to reduce the island's dependence on imported oil for power, the Guam Power Authority signed wind and solar contracts for the next 20 and 25 years, respectively, with Pacific Green Resources.

PGR president Rick Cruz said, "It is my honor representing our firm in this historic occasion, historic in the sense that it's the first ever on Guam for a fully utility scale wind farm of this magnitude." And Consolidated Commission on Utilities chairman Simon Sanchez added, ""Here's an opportunity where a local entrepreneur, saw an opportunity partnered with other international partners and have stepped up and said we can solve a problem for the people of Guam and we can help you, GPA."

The project will cover 300 acres in Dandan with completion on a solar farm in one year and a wind farm in three years. The partnership is set to create about 110 jobs with construction and 27 new jobs to support daily operations. Over 900,000 barrels of oil meanwhile will be replaced with renewable energy through the contract term at an estimated savings of $5.5 million annually.