Grant funding will continue the pacific lineman training program (PLT) for another year

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs awarded $492,783 to the Yap State Public Service Corporation under CFDA 15.875 (Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories) on November 3, 2025, to continue the Pacific Lineman Training Program (PLT) through September 30, 2029. This project grant funds the delivery of 22 basic lineman training classes designed to develop professionally certified power linemen for public power utilities across six Pacific insular jurisdictions: Guam, Palau, Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The training program addresses critical workforce shortages in these regions caused by lineman retirements and outmigration, with an projected 46 new power linemen completing professional certification by the end of the project period and an additional 29 linemen expected to complete training within six months thereafter.

The expansion of training frequency and volume—increasing from 19 classes in the previous year to 22 classes in the current project year—responds directly to utility requests and addresses the severe scarcity of training opportunities in the Pacific insular region. By deploying a professionally trained lineman workforce, the participating utilities will enhance their capacity to rehabilitate storm-damaged and deteriorating power distribution systems, thereby improving electricity services and supporting economic development and disaster recovery across the island communities.

The proposed training will continue to develop professionally certified power lineman for the public power utilities of guam, palau, YAP, pohnpei, chuuk and the cnmi. Each pacific insular area has a severe shortage of power lineman, exacerbated by the retirement of long-time linesmen and outmigration. Restoring lineman staffing levels of the island utilities will enable them to rehabilitate their power distribution systems impacted by storms and deteriorating infrastructure. Every member utility has asked PLT to expand the number, and frequency, of its training classes to speed development of new power lineman. The resultant project plan calls for 22 basic lineman training classes over the next project year. This is an increase over last year's 19 classes as the utilities realize how critical IT is to have their staff fully trained, and how few and far between opportunities for training are in the pacific insular area. By the end of the proposed project period, as many as 46 new power lineman will receive their professional certification, and join the line crews of four insular areas (chuuk, palau, saipan, YAP). Another 29 lineman should complete their certification training in the following six months, from two additional islands (guam, pohnpei). The projected number of new certified lineman in the region will have a significant positive impact on electricity services to the island communities. Improved power utility services will help the micronesian islands further develop their economies and recovery more quickly from annual storm systems that continue to have significant impacts on the islands.