Saipan - Pioneering introduction of wind and solar technology to the on island

In what may be considered a pioneering act, Saipan-based businessman Vic Balian aims to introduce wind and solar technology on island as alternative ways to generate power. Balian, a former executive of CNMI Telesource, said he and his business associates have done research on the project and is now in the process of talking to manufacturers. Balian left for Manila yesterday to meet with his business contacts. He said he will be off-island for two weeks. Balian believes that wind power is a feasible project despite worries of typhoons constantly hitting the Marianas. "If we are going to sit and talk about being in a risky place, I think everybody should just pack and leave because typhoons come and go. If it's what we worry about, nothing will be achieved here," he said.

To begin with, he said that any towering structure could hardly sustain a 200-mile per hour typhoon. "This kind of typhoon would blow away even parked cars or houses. So the worry about strong typhoons only hinders us from moving ahead," he said. On Saipan, strong typhoons like Chaba had a wind strength ranging from 92 to 115 miles per hour. If wind strength goes beyond 150 miles per hour, it is considered a supertyphoon. Balian said that, as businessman, he will take the risk of investing in wind and solar energy on the island. "Everything is a risk. We took a risk since the day we started breathing," he reasoned. Based on the plan, Balian's group would be bringing in small-size wind turbines for business establishments. He said that big turbines may not be available until 2009. "[Big] wind turbines are sold out worldwide up to 2009," he said. Wind mills can be imported from Holland, Finland, Denmark, United States, and Japan. He said Japan Mitsubishi produces big turbines with a capacity of 2.3 to 2.5 MW.

A grocery store or restaurant may only require up to 10,000 watts or 10Kv. Prices vary from $50,000 to $65,000 for this size. A wind turbine may last 15 to 20 years. He said wind turbines or solar panels would be interconnected with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.'s power grid to ensure uninterrupted service. "It's less strain on CUC. There's less purchase of oil and less purchase of power from CUC," said Balian. Balian's company is named Pacific Wind and Sun Energy. "We're now in the process [of doing it]. We hope to bring the technology as soon as possible” he said.