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American Samoa receives U.S. drilling grant for geothermal project

American Samoa receives U.S. drilling grant for geothermal project Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa (Source: Flickr, CC, By: eutrophication&hypoxia)
Alexander Richter 15 May 2015

The goal of the EIC Program is to help the insular areas implement high-priority projects identified in their respective strategic energy plans.

The Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina has announced $2,374,000 in grant assistance under the Empowering Insular Communities or EIC Program for various clean energy and energy-efficiency projects in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The goal of the EIC Program is to help the insular areas implement high-priority projects identified in their respective strategic energy plans.

“I am pleased to support renewable energy projects that reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and help relieve the high cost burden of electricity in the region,” said Assistant Secretary Kia’aina. “Not only do these projects help build renewable energy infrastructure but they help these communities build climate change resiliency and self-sufficiency.”

American Samoa Geothermal Drilling Program – $1,130,000 to support a slim hole drilling program to test for geothermal potential on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa. The American Samoa Power Authority in partnership with the Office of Insular Affairs and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory completed the geothermal resource assessment phase that provided promising results and recommended moving forward with an exploratory drilling program. The utility recently finished a comprehensive exploration drilling plan and hopes to complete the drilling by December 2015. Once developed, geothermal power can be produced as a baseload renewable energy resource, meaning it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of changing weather. As a continuous source of clean energy, geothermal power is well suited as a potential alternative to diesel fuel on Tutuila.

Source: Marianas Variety