Given the multiple significant projects ongoing at the time with the American Samoa Power Authority, Utu Abe Malae has agreed to remain as Executive Director for another two years. According to Utu, who responded to Samoa News queries, the ASPA Board was kind enough to invite him to stay on and they have agreed to a 2-year contract.

He pointed out in his email that there were many important projects started after the Tsunami of 2009 that are picking up momentum and it’s vital that they are completed within two years.

“We are getting out of the oil supply business before December 2013 and there are still water quality, quantity and unaccounted water problems that must be solved," Utu noted. "We must drill new wells, restore the two micro-filtration plants, install treatment facilities if necessary, and bring down water losses to a manageable level.”

He also noted that with wastewater, there are Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) and Public Health issues that must be addressed and not resolving these issues could be costly — in the order of $90 to $100 million in capital and operating costs over the life of the facilities. Utu further explained that there is groundwater under the direct influence of surface water resulting in boil water notices and wastewater conversion from primary to secondary treatment.

The ASPA EO further pointed to challenges that go beyond the scope of ASPA, such as Solid Waste collection and disposal plus recycling.

“We keep importing things into the island, including appliances, cars, plastics, roofing iron and so forth… where will they all go? Soon we will run out of space,” he said.

“Then there is the cost of power generation, the area that hurts the pocketbooks of everyone in American Samoa. We must bring the costs down to customers and improve service. It can be done, as we are fortunate to be in American Samoa and not somewhere else,” Utu added.

In addition, he noted they are working well with TEO (Territorial Energy Office) and AS-EPA to find renewable energy solutions that are environmentally friendly and there are Requests for Proposal (RFPs) publicized in the newspaper for a grid integration study.

“We are awarding a new power plant at Satala that is more efficient than the temporary one operating at present,” according to Utu.

The EO also explained that they are paying more attention to the needs of Manu'a and even Aunu'u. 

In the previous legislative session, Aunu’u lawmaker Rep. Talaimatai Su'a was vocal about the issues of poor water and electricity on Aunu’u Island.

Utu said that the American Samoa Renewable Energy Committee (chaired by TEO) has in its action plan a goal of making Manu'a 100% renewable energy dependent in 3.5 years and that this ambitious goal is in place.

Samoa News has also received calls and emails from ASPA employees, who are pleased with the decision by the ASPA EO to stay for another two years.

In April 2001, Utu was named one of the "Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year" by the American Public Works Association.

He was honored at the Mayors' Asia-Pacific Environment Summit 2001 in Hawai’i and also that same year, Utu was named Vice Chair of the Pacific Power Association (PPA). He later became the acting chairman of the PPA in 2002 where he was chosen for a full two-year term as chairman at the PPA's annual meeting in Fiji while working as the ASPA EO at the time.