Battery energy storage system to enable growth, peak shaving and grid stability in rota, cnmi- FY 2025

The Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs awarded Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) a $1.162 million Project Grant on October 20, 2025, under the Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875) to design, procure, and install a battery energy storage system in Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The project, with a completion date of September 30, 2030, will enable economic growth, peak shaving capabilities, and enhanced grid stability for the island's electrical infrastructure. This award supports CUC's broader mission to strengthen critical utility infrastructure across the CNMI, particularly in addressing energy resilience and reducing reliance on imported fuels in an isolated Pacific island community.

This grant represents part of a comprehensive infrastructure modernization initiative by CUC, which has concurrently received multiple Department of Insular Affairs awards totaling over $7.7 million in FY 2025 for complementary energy and utility projects, including a 2.5-megawatt diesel generator installation on Rota and battery energy storage integration on Saipan. The Office of Insular Affairs administers discretionary grants to U.S. territories and freely associated states to address gaps in federal programming and support economic and infrastructure development in these geographically isolated jurisdictions with limited revenue sources.