Firm awarded geothermal exploration contract on Saipan

LAS VEGAS—Maevelle Energy announced last week it has been awarded a contract in joint venture with 4i’s CNMI, LLC and Alexander Drilling of CNMI to begin work assessing geothermal resource potential for Saipan, the largest island of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The contract was issued by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. of the CNMI.

Although the potential for geothermal energy was highlighted in reports issued by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 2010, advancing exploration on CNMI has, until now, been delayed. With this announcement, CUC is advancing the islands’ renewable energy plan with this bold commitment to geothermal exploration and resource development. Heavily reliant on diesel fuel for electric power generation, the CNMI is challenged to provide electricity at reasonable rates due to rising fuel costs.

Developing alternative energy sources such as geothermal power is key to plans that the CUC has been meticulously developing to ensure long-term, stable, and affordable energy sources for the people of CNMI. Once verified and with strategic planning, geothermal could be integrated into the islands’ grid, providing energy diversity and stable base loads while lowering consumer rates and eliminating a portion of the islands’ import costs by reducing the need for oil supply.

The project will be funded by grants the CUC received from the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

Maevelle Energy and its partners have been selected to collect and evaluate extensive data, conduct exploratory drilling, and provide equipment and materials necessary to complete the work.

Maevelle Energy President Justin Mahlmann said: “This project is a tremendous step towards realizing goals of power generation through renewables for the Commonwealth. Helping to deliver affordable power through renewable energy to Saipan is a testament to the strength of our services.”

Available information from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests that the thermal gradient beneath Saipan may be sufficiently steep to provide geothermal energy to generate electricity. Under this initiative, Maevelle Energy will begin the work determining the exact nature of the resource and the potential output CNMI could expect with future developments.

Maevelle Energy provides engineering, consulting, and professional management services for utility scale renewable energy resource development and energy efficiency measures for the built environment. Whether solar, geothermal, wind or hydro, Maevelle Energy is dedicated to providing the solutions their clients need. To learn more about Maevelle Energy, LLC visit their website at www.maevelleenergy.com, or contact them at info@maevelleenergy.com. (PRNewswire)