Commonwealth Utilities Corporation logo Photo: Commonwealth Utilities Corporation
The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) is looking at tapping into micronuclear energy as an alternative to power the electricity needs of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
This was revealed by the utility company's executive director Kevin Watson during the question-and-answer portion of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications (PUTC) last Thursday on Capitol Hill.
He told the PUTC that he had been in discussions with vendors and co-ordinated with the Department of Energy experts to meet with CUC to explore the potential of micronuclear technology.
"They (vendors) have units as low as 3 megawatts. When I spoke to them, they did indicate that there's a high risk in a high seismic active area, which I know I've felt more earthquakes here than I did in California.
"I think this is a highly active seismic area, but we are going to entertain with the Department of Energy, they're experts," he said after PUTC Committee chair Senator Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) broached the idea of nuclear energy.
Watson said one stumbling block in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) accessing nuclear energy is the CNMI constitution, which bans the use of the alternative source.
"If those risks can be overcome, the other challenge we would have is for a change in the [CNMI] constitution that doesn't allow nuclear energy, I believe, in the CNMI."
However, Hofschneider said nuclear energy is not constitutionally outlawed in the islands.
"You can actually change it because I introduced the law, and when I left for a vacation, the senators at the time, shelved it and I wasn't around to justify it."
Hofschneider earlier asked CUC outright why nuclear energy isn't even part of its Integrated Resource Plan, which is a comprehensive decision-support mechanism that creates a long-term roadmap using financial modelling and technical analysis to determine the best options for supplying electricity over the long run at the least possible cost in the CNMI.
"Is that too hot topic to discuss openly? Nuclear battery [and] nuclear energy is not new. It's more than likely it requires a lot of technical expertise way above what we know here."
Nuclear 'against our values' - advocate
Mariana Trench chair and Mariana Islands Nature Alliance 2023 Environmental Champion Award winner Sheila Babauta said nuclear energy is not a sustainable option for the CNMI.
"It will be expensive, harder to implement, and due to our geological position on the globe we are prone to major accidents. Nuclear waste and nuclear meltdowns are a high possibility," she said.
"We can turn to Japan for examples of how it is negativity impacting our environment.
"Japan is a major world power with a big economy and they couldn't figure out what to do with their nuclear waste, but dump it in our ocean. That goes against our values as Pacific people and our connection to the ocean."
She also wants everyone to remember that when she was in office, the House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 22-11 condemning the dumping of nuclear waste in the Pacific Ocean following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Match 2011.
She then said instead of nuclear energy, CUC should focus its renewable power initiatives on tapping solar power.
"I believe the sun is our greatest ally. We must continue to find ways to empower communities to be responsible for the installation and maintenance of their solar panels.
"Communities in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands have solar farms at the village level. They track and control their own usage, are responsible for maintenance, and in some cases even uninstall their panels for protection when a typhoon warning is issued. That's empowerment and a true community solution, and I believe it's possible for us in the CNMI."
'Public skepticism'
The Friends of the Mariana Trench Advisory Council chair Floyd Masga, who is the current acting director of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, said the decision to explore nuclear energy should be weighed seriously by the island community.
"In my opinion, the decision on nuclear energy must be a community effort, with the administration reviewing factors like safety, location, and environmental impact," Masga said,.
"As the largest source of clean power in the US, nuclear energy provides nearly half of the nation's emissions-free electricity, but public skepticism persists due to past accidents, nuclear weapons associations, and media influence.
He said the US Department of Energy collaborates with industry on safer reactors and fuels, while educating the public.
"Key challenges include managing nuclear waste, high costs, regulatory delays, and infrastructure needs, all crucial for nuclear energy's sustainable future."
MINA executive director Roberto Guerrero also made a brief remark when asked if CNMI should consider nuclear energy.
"As opposed to solar that is free? I'm not an engineer but I think nuclear power would be wrong for our small community."
