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Torres, Palacios file bill to address delays in structural projects
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Posted on Aug 31 2008
Rep. Stanley T. Torres and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios have filed a legislation that aims to address the problem on delays in structural projects in the CNMI.
House Bill 16-149 seeks to suspend for two years a provision that requires the government to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.
Torres and Palacios said the suspension of the provision is needed to provide the Department of Public Works with time to certify its personnel or to hire LEED certified personnel.
The lawmakers stated in the legislation that this two-year period will permit DPW to employ one or all of the strategies for compliance with the achievable mandates of the Energy Conservation Act.
Public Law 15-23, as amended, established incentives for producing electricity using alternative or renewable energy.
Since the enactment of Public Law 15-23, as amended, the government has been required to meet LEED Silver standards for all new buildings.
However, Torres and Palacios noted, DPW does not have LEED-certified personnel and this has led to increased construction costs due to delay in structural projects.
The lawmakers stressed that they are still in strong support of building sustainable structures, but that DPW needs time to certify its personnel or to find additional funding to hire a LEED-accredited professional.
