OIA Awards $10.7 Million in Energizing Insular Communities Grants to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor today announced over $10 million in Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) grant funding to be awarded to Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through the EIC program, the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) supports energy security in the territories by funding proposals tied to each territory’s energy plan, which reflects their self-determined energy goals.
“We are pleased to support the self-determined energy goals of the territories,” said Assistant Secretary Cantor. “Both territories, in their proposals, will receive support to continue implementing and strengthening clean energy alternatives.”
EIC awards to the Government of Guam for Fiscal Year 2024 are as follow:
| Agency or Office/ Project Title | Amount | Purpose |
| Guam Power Authority/Guam 100 Phase II | $ 3,000,000 | Continued detailed analysis of implementation strategies and contingency analysis. |
| Guam Community College/ PV Systems for Buildings 1000 and D | $ 2,032,800 | A 140kw Hybrid grid-tied PV and Battery Storage System at Building 1000; a 100kw grid-tied PV System for Net Zero Building D |
| Guam Energy Office/Plug-In Electric Vehicle Rebate Program | $ 335,390 | Fund rebates in the Guam Plug-In Electric Vehicle Rebate program, previously funded through local funds and Energy. |
| Bureau of Statistics and Plans/Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles | $ 105,000 | Two Plug-In Hybrid vehicles for support in carrying out the mission. |
| Total for Guam, FY2024 | $ 5,473,190 |
| Agency or Office/Project Title | Amount | Purpose |
| Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA)/ Roy Lester Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas | $ 3,150,000 | Procure and install a 4-hour/2MW Battery Energy Storage System for the Roy Schneider Hospital. |
| VIWAPA/ Bucket Truck Project | $ 1,044,000 | Procure and integrate 2 fully equipped electric bucket trucks into the VIWAPA utility fleet and install chargers. |
| VIWAPA/ Electric Vehicle Project | $ 1,038,000 | Procure and integrate 12 electric vehicles for the VIWAPA utility fleet and install chargers. |
| Total for the USVI | $ 5,232,000 |
The Office of Insular Affairs works closely with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide technical assistance in support of the territories’ continued efforts to deploy clean energy systems, diversify energy sources, reduce costs, and improve energy security and resilience. While there were no successful applications from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands this year, NREL is providing support on future applications from the territories.
The Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The OIA also administers a discretionary Technical Assistance Program for all the Insular Areas. Find information about OIA and its work on www.doi.gov/oia, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
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