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Mihaville house now has solar power
NMHC-CUC solar power project takes off
Officials from the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. attend the launching of the NMHC Solar Project last Friday in Mihaville, Garapan. (Contributed Photo)
Officials from the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. officially launched Friday the NMHC Solar Project by energizing the first home at Mihaville to be fueled by solar power through a net meter installed by CUC.
The NMHC Solar Project aims to assist single family households and tenants reduce their reliance on common utility consumption run by imported petroleum fuel, which translates to savings from monthly power utility payments.
A Commonwealth Utilities Corp. lineman energizes the first home at Mihaville to be fueled by solar power through a net meter. (Contributed Photo)
“We are delighted at the promise of this latest project, which harnesses abundant year-round solar power in our islands and modernizes our tenant homes by retrofitting them to be energy efficient, while saving them monies that they can use for their other basic needs,” NMHC corporate director Jesse S. Palacios said in congratulating Terry Aldan, who resides at the first solar power energized home in Garapan.
In fiscal year 2018, NMHC received donations of solar panels, construction services, and related hardware totaling $1,359,489 from Pacific Wind and Solar through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. The project will directly benefit 82 low-income families in the Mihaville and Koblerville housing units.
When fully activated, these tenants will benefit from:
– Approximately 70% reduction in monthly costs for power used during daylight hours. This lower cost alternative will help improve the quality of life of those families.
– At full capacity it is estimated that the solar arrays will generate approximately 450 kWh every 30 days, per household.
– The additional power generated will not require fuel or oil from CUC generators, providing additional CUC load capacity from an eco-friendly renewable resource. (PR)
