Overview

Resources and Consumption

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a chain of 14 islands located in the North Pacific Ocean three quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. The total area of the islands is 184 square miles, about 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. The population totals about 85,000. The CNMI has a tropical marine climate with little seasonal temperature variation, a dry season from December to June, and a rainy season from July to October. The largest industry in the CNMI is garment production. Tourism employs about half of the work force and accounts for approximately one quarter of gross domestic product. Like the rest of the U.S. Pacific Islands, the CNMI has no conventional energy resources and meets nearly all of its energy needs with petroleum shipped in by tanker.

Petroleum

The CNMI ships in petroleum products to satisfy its energy demand. The petroleum products used include liquefied petroleum gas, motor gasoline, diesel fuel, and distillate fuel oil.

Natural Gas

The CNMI does not produce or consume natural gas.

Coal, Electricity, and Renewables

The CNMI does not produce or consume coal and generates very little electricity. In 2006, the overall peak load was approximately 60 megawatts. Electric power is provided by diesel-fueled electric power plants operating on the main islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, with a total capacity of a little over 125 megawatts. There are also some small installations on a few of the outer islands. The CNMI has established a renewable portfolio standard that requires 10 percent of net electricity sales to be provided by renewable sources by 2010, with an ultimate goal of 50 percent of net electricity sales by 2030.

The ocean surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands has wind resources measured up to class 6 (up to 19.7 miles per hour at 50 meters above ground level) during December, January, and February, while wind resources on the islands themselves approach class 3 (up to 15.7 miles per hour at 50 meters above ground level). Wind speeds designated with a class of 3 or higher are suitable for most utility-scale wind turbine applications. One site in particular is being discussed as a potential trial site for turbine installation. A high school located on Saipan was chosen as the site for the CNMI’s first public renewable energy system -- one 2.7-kilowatt wind turbine, nine 18-volt solar panels, and the technology to monitor the performance of both energy sources. That system was installed in February 2009 and will supply power to the school’s main science laboratory, water pump, and other units.