Does American Samoa have energy issues?

Although energy burdens pose a real challenge in American Samoa, the territory is working to advance energy justice. For example, the Territorial Energy Office provides home energy efficiency programs to help reduce energy costs for low-income households.

Can American Samoa develop wind power?

American Samoa is exploring opportunities for both offshore and onshore wind power generation. In 2022, federal legislation opened offshore waters around the U.S. territories (including American Samoa) to wind power development.

Is American Samoa a renewable country?

American Samoa’s energy sector relies almost entirely on imported fossil fuels, although renewables represent a small but growing power system contribution. The territory possesses substantial solar energy resources, as well as wind and biomass resource potential.

How much solar power does American Samoa have?

Of the 5 MW of ASPA’s grid-connected solar PV capacity, 4.1 MW is utility scale and 900 kW is distributed across rooftops. American Samoa’s smaller islands are moving toward a combination of solar, batteries, and diesel generators.

What will American Samoa do with the data?

American Samoa plans to make these data available to the public, to students of the Finafinau Group (an island community-service project focused on environmental conservation and resilience), and to all other interested parties for science projects and related activities (American Samoa Governor’s Office 2023a).

Why is Energy Justice important for American Samoa?

Energy justice is an important concept for American Samoa due in part to energy affordability issues. As Table 8 demonstrates, the approximate baseline home electricity burden in American Samoa in 2019 was 5.45%—compared to an approximate baseline U.S. home electricity burden of 2.11%.