Power consumption expected to decline at SSHS

Saipan Southern High School’s consumption of power is now expected to go down following the installation yesterday of the school’s first-ever alternative energy, which will use a combination of both solar and wind sources on campus.

Speaking before students, school leaders and elected officials, Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan described yesterday’s event as another significant milestone for public education.

“We’re happy to see this milestone at SSHS. Just a few months ago, we’re looking at our school energy bills and we’re convinced that we need to do something. Now with this windmill solar panel, we may be able to reduce our energy consumption,” she said.

Utilities, which remain an unfunded item for PSS, poses as the system’s greatest challenge this fiscal year, with an estimated expense of about $3.4 million.

The wind turbine project will allow the school to save up to $250 in its monthly electrical billing.

According to Robert Jordan, Allied Pacific Environmental Consultant program manager, the Skystream 3.7 wind turbine and nine Kyocera 18V solar panels installed yesterday will be capable of supplying power to the school’s main science laboratory, water pump and other units.

Costing about $90,000 including equipment and installations, the project’s cost was sourced from Concorde’s penalty to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency amounting to $56,300—or 80 percent of the company’s $81,000 total fine.

Jordan said a previous $20,000 donation to the school was added to complete the undertaking.

He said the recurrent power outages and PSS’ interest in alternative energy motivated the school to accept the project.

Education Board chair Lucy Blanco-Maratita said yesterday the new equipment will help instill in the minds of students the importance of saving energy at all times.

According to the project’s experts, the energy produced by the wind turbine and solar panels will be recorded and measured by means of the Skystream’s internal data logging system and also by the green meter. Electrical energy will be stored in a specially designed battery bank system for use within the science classroom.

Concorde Garment Manufacturing Co. legal counsel Steve Pixley, in yesterday’s event, lauded the hard work and cooperation of all parties involved in the project.