EIC program for energy projects funds ASPA and ASTCA to the tune of $4.1 Million

Washington, D.C. — The Department of the Interior (DOI) through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) program is providing $4,193,840 in federal funding for the American Samoa Power Authority and the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority.

This grant will be used for high-priority energy projects, as detailed in ASPA’s and ASTCA’s EIC grant applications submitted this year. 

“Thank you to ASPA and ASTCA for putting in the work necessary to receive and implement federal funds for our Territory from DOI, and congratulations to Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga and Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale as they work with Assistant Secretary Carmen Cantor, Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa, and OIA Director John Brewer on various efforts,” Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata said in a press release issued by her Washington D.C. staff yesterday.

The three high-priority energy project grants are as follows:

• •          $1,903,840 to the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) for its Smart Metering and Operation Management System – Time of Use Tariff Project.
• •          $1,620,000 to the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) for the procurement of electric trucks and charging stations.
• •          $670,000 to the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) for the purchase of two air-cooled chiller units and appurtenances for the Fagatogo Central Office building.

Federal funding, whether yearly known funding or new grants, is determined by departments and agencies after Congress created the programs legislatively.