‘Green energy’ venture breaks ground at SSHS

The CNMI’s first public alternative energy production system to use a combination of both solar and wind energy will be implemented at Saipan Southern High School by February 2009.

The project was proposed to SSHS by the former Concorde Garment Manufacturing Co. as an alternative means of settling fines resulting from previous U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory violations.

Recurrent power outages and the public School System’s interest in alternative energy motivated the school to accept the proposal.

The equipment to be installed is designed to operate the school’s science lab and water pump without relying on the public power supply.

In 2005 Concorde was cited by the U.S. EPA for various violations of hazardous waste violations. Concorde retained Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting to assist in its defense of these citations. Concorde, with the assistance of APEC, was able to reach a settlement of this disputed matter. This settlement with EPA allowed Concorde to choose as a part of the settlement a project that would provide public environmental benefits.

In coordination with APEC, Concorde chose to offer Saipan Southern High School an alternative energy opportunity.

APEC, under contract to Concorde, is currently installing a Skystream 3.7 wind turbine and nine Kyocera 18V solar panels. The system will be capable of powering the school’s main science laboratory, water pump as well as other units. Another key aspect of this renewable energy system is its so-called “net metering” capability, which allows it to “run the meter backwards,” meaning it can turn back the school’s electrical meter to save money and reduce its electrical load on the public utility system.

Energy produced by the wind turbine and solar panels will be recorded and measured by means of the Sky Stream’s internal data logging system and also by the Green Meter (a software-based renewable energy data recording system). Electrical energy will be stored in a specially designed battery bank system for use within the science classroom.

Students will acquire and analyze wind and solar data, while teachers integrate the mechanics and electrical components into the Natural Science curriculum, which is currently implemented at SSHS. Not only will the students, and the public, be benefiting from learning modern methods for obtaining alternative energy, the combined alternative units have the ability to save the school around $250 each month in electrical costs.

Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting president Tom Polevich stated: “With this pilot renewable energy project, the CNMI is taking a major step forward into the future of alternative energy use and toward fossil fuel independence. What started out as an environmental negative now will end as an environmental positive. The CNMI, SSHS, Concorde Manufacturing and the U.S. EPA are all winners with this project.” Another key player in the conceptual design of this project, SSHS vice principal Craig Garrison, is enthusiastic about the ground breaking at his school yesterday. A ribbon cutting and system activation ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 17, 2009.

APEC and the project team acknowledge and appreciate the assistance provided by CNMI government agencies, including PSS; CUC Power Division; DPW Energy and Building Code Divisions; DEQ; HPO; Zoning and; the Governor’s Office. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]