21 Oct 2010

Pacific island leaders, experts discuss renewable energy options in CNMI

12:25 pm on 21 October 2010

Government leaders in the Pacific Islands and energy experts from the U.S. mainland are attending an energy symposium in the Northern Marianas to develop a holistic approach to energy challenges.

Over 60 participants registered on the event's first day of the three day Pacific Island Energy Symposium.

The meeting has been organized by the Northern Marianas College and the U.S. Department of Energy Office.

Philip Voss, senior project leader for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, says one goal is to reduce the importation of fossil fuel and provide a range of renewable energy alternatives.

Discussions have focused on case studies, like the integrated deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy in U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii's clean energy initiative.