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.

How much electricity does American Samoa use?

Annual estimated electricity consumption in American Samoa is low compared to U.S. consumption (4.38 MWh and 10.65 MWh, respectively); it is the cost of electricity and median household income that are the main drivers of the territory’s home electricity burden.

Where is American Samoa located?

American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain in the South Pacific Ocean, located roughly between Hawaii and New Zealand but closer to New Zealand (Figure 1). The territory consists of five volcanic islands (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega) and two coral atolls (Rose Atoll and Swains Island).

Where does American Samoa get fuel?

Fuel for American Samoa comes from Singapore with Busan, South Korea as an alternate provider if needed. In the case of fuel disruption, Pacific Energy prioritizes serving ASPA to ensure power and water treatment services are not interrupted (Pacific Energy representative, personal communication, August 9, 2023).

What is American Samoa's energy policy?

American Samoa is committed to leveraging these and other federal funding opportunities to advance its energy goals and priorities moving forward. American Samoa’s energy policy landscape constitutes a blend of multilateral agreements, strategic plans, rules, regulations, and dedicated offices.

Does American Samoa have a geothermal energy plan?

The 2016 American Samoa Energy Action Plan identifies some geothermal resources, but none of these are viable for commercial electricity generation. The 2016 plan instead emphasizes the development of wind and solar power (Ness, Haase, and Conrad 2016). American Samoa is exploring opportunities for both offshore and onshore wind power generation.