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.

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.

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.

Does Samoa have an emergency energy conservation plan?

1979: The U.S. “Emergency Energy Conservation Act of 1979” requires the submission of an emergency energy conservation plan by each state or territory (Public Law 96-102, as amended). American Samoa adopted its Emergency Energy Conservation Plan in 1982 (see Chapter 5, Annex A of ASCA 12 for plan details).

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.

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%.