Aumua Amata Announces $1,843,431 DOI Grant Awards for American Samoa
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, "I am pleased to announce the awarding of four grants by Department of Interior (DOI), totaling $1,843,431. Two Empowering Insular Communities (EIC) grants and two Coral Reef Initiative (CRI) programs, for our islands," said Amata. "These grantswill help our islands become more energy independent, provide for further sources of clean, renewable energy and save our reefs from further destruction, all of which serves to protect our environment," continued Amata.
The EIC program promotes various clean energy and energy-efficiency projects in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The goal of the EIC program is to help the insular areas implement high-priority projects identified in their respective strategic energy plans.
American Samoa was awarded grants for the following EIC projects:
American Samoa Geothermal Drilling Program - $1,130,000 to support a slim hole drilling program to test for geothermal potential on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa. The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) in partnership with the Office of Insular Affairs and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory completed the geothermal resource assessment phase that provided promising results and recommended moving forward with an exploratory drilling program. The utility recently finished a comprehensive exploration drilling plan and hopes to complete the drilling by December 2015. Once developed, geothermal power can be produced as a base-load renewable energy resource, meaning it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of changing weather. As a continuous source of clean energy, geothermal power is well suited as a potential alternative to diesel fuel on Tutuila.
Manu'a 100% Renewable Energy Initiative - $378,262 to support the installation of a hybrid renewable energy system on the island of Ofu in the Manu'a Islands in American Samoa. The hybrid system will include a 341kilowatt photo-voltaic system along with a battery backup system integrated with the existing diesel generators. The project is an important first step in achieving the goal of making the Manu'a Islands powered 100% by clean energy. Once the hybrid system is installed, Ofu will receive up to 85% of its energy from solar power.
"I am also pleased to announce that the DOI has seen the importance of protecting our fragile reefs by awarding two grants that will assist in efforts to maintain healthy and productive reefs throughout the islands," said Amata.
American Samoa was awarded grants for the following Coral Reef Initiative (CRI) programs:
American Samoa's Coral Reef Advisory Group - $135,169 to assess water quality and identify likely sources of nutrient loads in American Samoa's watersheds; install rain gardens to reduce land-based sources of pollution in targeted watersheds including Faga'alu, Vatia and Nu'uuli; and continues efforts to eradicate the crown of thorns starfish invasion and monitor the bleaching event of 2015.
National Coral Reef Institute - $200,000 to support a Coral Assistantship program in American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. The program was identified as a priority by the insular areas in the 2014 U.S. Coral Reef Task Force 2014 report for funding in 2015 and 2016. It will be administered by the Nova Southeastern University's National Coral Reef Institute. The program will help fill current capacity gaps as well as build longer-term capacity by placing qualified young professionals where their education and work experience will meet each jurisdiction's specific needs.
"It is essential that we work to ensure the continued well-being of our reefs, as they are such a vital resource to American Samoa," said Amata. "I want to thank Assistant Secretary Kia'aina for her foresight on this issue, and to those in American Samoa who helped secure this critical funding for the protection of our reefs," concluded Amata.
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