Developing wind power on Tutuila is one of the renewable energy strategies for American Samoa identified by American Samoa Renewable Energy Committee (ASREC), which has set a goal to have the territory using 100% renewable energy by 2040, according to the updated 2016 American Samoa Energy Plan report, released in September by the ASREC, established some six years ago.

A Strategic Energy Plan — which established the overall long-term goals for energy consumption and generation in American Samoa — was initially released in 2012. Then in 2013 the Energy Action Plan was released with a selected handful of specific strategies that were achievable in the short term (1-3 years). The 2013 action plan was envisioned as a living document that would be regularly updated by ASREC.

One of the four strategies in the updated 2016 plan calls for the development of wind power on Tutuila.

“Wind energy is a potentially attractive option for American Samoa,” according to ASREC report. “ASPA has already started exploring development options and has received a proposal for a wind power purchase agreement (PPA) that will include one year of meteorological monitoring. This proposal is the primary focus of the wind strategy.”

The overall goal, the plan says, is to increase the total amount of wind energy deployed on Tutuila to as much as 12 megawatts, which directly helps ASREC reach its target of having 50% of American Samoa's energy come from renewable energy resources by 2025 and 100% by 2040.

However, the plan notes potential challenges:

•     Environmental permitting, including avian issues

•     Land availability and negotiation of land lease prices — however ASPA has already secured land rights for one parcel

•     Issues related to system integration and grid stability — vendor responsibility

•     Availability of cranes for turbine installation — vendor responsibility

•     Running a sub-transmission line from the identified wind site to the main electric grid — vendor responsibility

•     Availability (or construction costs) of suitable access roads — Public Works charges approximately $1 million per mile for a 20'-wide road.

The plan, which calls Dec. 31, 2020 as the overall deadline for this strategy, says the goal is to implement wind power development on Tutuila at less than 10 cents per kilowatt an hour. And the American Samoa Power Authority has been given the responsibility of coordinating the implementation of this strategy.

The plan also outlines specific steps and timeline to implement this strategy. For example, sign PPA and issue notice to proceed by Apr. 30, 2017; and obtain the required permits to install met tower(s) with FAA permit request due to the US Federal Aviation Administration on May 30, 2017.

As to the estimated action funding for this strategy, the plan said “none”, adding that staff time is covered by ASPA while development costs are covered by the vendor awarded the project. (See Samoa News edition Nov. 4th for the electronic car strategy.)

One ASPA project that is moving forward at this point, is the Aoloaufou Renewable Energy Project to install two 100-kilowatt hours wind turbine, according to the Oct. 1, 2016 American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) report, which covers projects funded with proceeds from the ASEDA issued bonds.

The report notes that $8.1 million in proceeds not only helps with funding of the Aoloau project but also the Ta’u renewable project which was commissioned late last month and the Ofu renewable project to be commissioned later this month