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Governor Camacho Presses Secretary Of The Interior For High Level Support of Guam Military Buildup |
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DOI pushes military expansion and renewable energy policy as priorities for Guahan in coming year
March 1, 2010
(Golden, Colorado) Governor Felix P. Camacho on Friday met with U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar in Washington, D.C., to conclude a week of meetings centered on military expansion in the Western Pacific and efforts to expand renewable energy on Guahan. Secretary Salazar committed his agency’s senior leadership to ensure the Guam Military Buildup Program moves ahead with the full interests of the people of Guahan at the forefront.
“I am pleased that Secretary Salazar has committed to engaging his senior staff in this critical issue,” said Governor Camacho. “My Administration will continue to stand firm in requiring that the mitigation of all impacts related to the Buildup be addressed.”
Secretary Salazar shared his agency’s disappointment with Governor Camacho on the recent lack of a TIGER Grant Award from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Secretary Salazar pressed Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes; Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Tom Strickland; and Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta, to work closely with the Economic Adjustment Committee to address the local government’s needs related to the Guam Buildup.
“What I received is a commitment of high level coordination,” said Governor Camacho. “DOI has a sense of what the United States must do to implement this national priority and, in the coming months, will work closely with the government of Guahan to ensure this buildup benefits our people.”
This week, Governor Camacho will attend meetings with American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono and CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to discuss ways to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy technologies in the islands. The three-day event, to be attended by senior Obama Administraiton officials and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, will touch on a host of issues including the integrated deployment of renewable energy solutions to the islands, strategic energy planning, and sharing results of Pacific Island Resource Assessments completed by NREL and DOI.
Additionally, the governors will be briefed on a recent agreement between the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the U.S. Department of Energy regarding a pilot program that seeks to bring renewable energy to islands around the world.
“This agreement sets out to have 60 percent of the territory’s energy come from renewable resources by 2025,” said Governor Camacho. “We hope to have both the Consolidated Commission on Utilities and the University of Guam to engage in this effort to help our island find solutions to stabilize energy prices, protect our environment and create green jobs.”
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