ASPA continues to voice support for proposed wind turbine farm

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With an increase in the September fuel surcharge, the American Samoa Power Authority has again called for community support of the planned wind turbine farm in Aoloau, while a Facebook posting identifying itself as Le Vaomatua is opposing the plan, arguing in an online petition that this project will permanently destroy rain forest in the area.

ASPA issued a Sept. 09 notice informing its customers about the recent spike in fuel costs that has increased the fuel surcharge portion of the September 2022 kWh system rate by 64% since the most recent low in January 2021.

According to ASPA’s Sep. 09, Rate Notification to the public, the rate for September 2022 is now at almost 54cents per kWh. The power authority reiterated that ASPA continues to explore renewable energy options with wind turbine technology and solar photovoltaic panels (PV).

ASPA explained that the impacts of the aftermath of the war in Ukraine will continue to cause spikes in future fuel costs around the world and will ultimately affect the cost of electricity in American Samoa.

The power authority announced in June that the wind turbine farm will cost over $100 million, with construction slated for around 2024, and plans to be operational two years later. There were also town hall meetings in June about the project.

Two Japanese based companies — Nippon Koei and Renova Inc., which ASPA says are “reputable engineering” firms in Japan — have formed a local company, Tutuila Wind Energy (TWE) Inc., for this project, to be located on east Aoloau. (See Samoa News edition June 23 for details.)

In a separate notice, also issued Sept. 09, ASPA said it believes that the proposed Wind Turbine Project will provide the opportunity to reduce electric rates, instead of continuing to depend on imported fossil fuel — or diesel — for energy needs. 

With the proposed wind turbine farm in the Aoloau area and other renewable projects in the horizon, “ASPA will be able to reduce the kWh rate by more than 50% of the current rate.  When we add more renewable energy projects, the rates will reduce even more,” it says.

The goal set by the American Samoa Renewable Energy Committee is to be 40% to 50% renewable by 2025 and 100% by 2040, according to ASPA.

And “instead of ASPA buying diesel fuel at fluctuating rates, as we do right now, to make electricity in our diesel generators”, ASPA “will buy cheaper electricity being made by the wind turbines and return the savings to the customers.”

ASPA acknowledged that there will be objections to such technologies and that people are not aware of the advantage or disadvantages of wind turbine technology.  There are also concerns about the environment and wildlife in these areas. 

ASPA says TWE is conducting studies and working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to get permits to utilize the Aoloau area for the wind turbine farms.  “Please allow the process to happen and STOP spreading misinformation,” declared ASPA, which also states that more town hall meetings and informational events will happen in the near future. 

“In the meantime, allow the TWE experts to do their jobs and to help American Samoa stop the suffering from the high fuel prices,” said ASPA. (Details of the ASPA public notice posted on its Facebook page.)

The group calling itself Le Vaomatua, is among those in the territory opposing this project, and launched on June 29, an online petition (www.change.org) to “Stop a wind farm from destroying a rain forest in American Samoa.”

On their Facebook posting they state the following disclaimer: “This is not the ‘Le Vaomatua’ that was an organization in American Samoa decades ago. This is a facebook page that was made to share information and our opinion about the proposed ASPA/TWE wind farm in a pristine forest area.”

“Putting 10 giant wind turbines in the middle of this forest where locally protected birds and bats feed and nest, will risk their deaths to turbine blade strikes, day and night, everyday for the 25 year lifetime of this project,” the petition said. “This forest is also the home of ancient archeological sites and the graves of our ancestors.”

“We are not against alternative energy, but feel this forest is not the appropriate site for this wind farm,” said Le Vaomatua, whose petition is hoping to get 200 signatures and as of yesterday morning has received 157 signatures.