(Fadian, Mangilao) - Guam Power Authority (GPA) participated in the 3rd Annual Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop (TWIC 3.0) hosted by The Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (DOI-OIA). This workshop was held from July 30, 2024, to August 2, 2024, at the Hawai’i Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The workshop brought together the U.S. Territories, federal agencies, and other key partners to deliver significant climate and infrastructure support provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

“GPA embraces these type of workshops and partnerships as they are crucial to GPA’s continued efforts towards its commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy and advancing its renewable energy projects,” stated GPA General Manager John M. Benavente, P.E.

The territories face unique challenges compared to the mainland United States, partly because of their distance. The TCIW 3.0 provided an opportunity for meaningful in-person engagement, allowing federal partners to gain a deeper understanding of these challenges. GPA met with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to discuss common issues the Authority faces when it comes to resiliency projects and meeting GPA’s 100% renewable energy goal by 2040.

“There’s a tremendous value in having GPA participate in these types of workshops. DOI-OIA gave the territories a platform to discuss issues and hurdles with their federal partners. GPA highlighted the critical need for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and synchronous condensers to stabilize its energy grid and integrating renewable sources,” mentioned Benavente.

DOI-OIA also emphasized the importance of energy auditing to enhance efficiency, strengthen funding proposals, and support the Implementation of the Guam Energy Office’s Solar for All grant.

“The opportunity to present alongside GPA during the TCIW energy sessions in Honolulu was an added testament to the strength of our partnership at a local level on Guam. We commit to continuing to bridge our programs at GEO with the technical expertise at GPA in order to keep us on the right path towards our 100% renewable goals,” said Guam Energy Office Director, Rebecca Respicio.

GPA Assistant General Manager of Engineering and Technical Services (AGMETS), John J. Cruz, Jr., P.E. noted, “GPA established valuable connections with other Government of Guam agencies and federal representatives, laying the groundwork for collaborative projects and joint funding applications. Our discussions with FEMA highlighted the critical need for resilient infrastructure, and federal support will be essential in implementing projects that enhance the reliability and resilience of our energy system. These conversations have strengthened GPA’s ability to secure federal funding and support as we move forward with our renewable energy projects.”