Isla Petroleum & Energy (IP&E) Holdings LLC recently made a ten-thousand-dollar donation to the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) in support of the recent UOG Conference on Island Sustainability held in April.
The group presented a check to CIS leadership through the University of Guam Endowment Foundation at a ceremony held at the energy group’s first solar panel micro-grid in Upper Tumon.
At the ribbon cutting for the solar micro-grid facility, IP&E and Shell Guam Managing Director Brian Bamba said that Shell is investing in lower carbon technologies throughout the world including renewable energy options.
“We are bringing these energy solutions to our community,” said Bamba. “We look forward to providing renewable energy to more businesses for a more sustainable future.”
UOG CIS and Sea Grant director Austin Shelton believes the donation will go a long way towards helping to continue the growth of the sustainability lessons on Guam.
“We are so grateful for the support from IP&E for this year’s Conference,” said Shelton. “We consider the CIS an earthquake event that fuels, motivates, and inspires other sustainability groups and projects for the rest of the year.”
For more information on the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability visit www.uog.edu/center-for-island-sustainability or follow the group on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
The community is invited to get a closer look at some of the equipment and services available at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub every Wednesday night during the CHamoru Village Night Market.
All three houses that make up the Makerspace and Innovation Hub including the Plastics House, the Green Store and the Workshop are all open and feature tours to for visitors who can leave the weekly event with a full stomach and what could be the start of their own small business.
“When people come in and check out our facilities, I love seeing the lights go off when ideas come to their minds,” said G3 Circular Economy Coordinator Myracle Mugol, who oversees the Makerspace. “We have such creative people on our island and when they come in here and see the tools they can have access to, it really motivates them to take that leap into entrepreneurship.”
Along with Mugol, herself an award-winning small business owner, the entire Makerspace team is comprised of small business owners ready to assist in growing the green economy.
“Our very experienced team is standing by and ready to answer any inquiries one might have about joining as a member of the Makerspace and Innovation Hub,” explained Mugol. “Members will have access to the CNC Routers, 3D printers and all the other tools for a membership fee that will still be way below the costs of having to buy the machines themselves and then have to ship them and house them here.”
Ryan Shane has often thought about starting his own business but never had access to the machinery that is available at the Makerspace before.
“It is really amazing to see this stuff here in Guam for the people to use,” said Shane. “I have priced this equipment out before, and I would need to really secure some loans before being able to buy them. Having this service and this membership opportunity will get me into production so I can make that money and eventually be able to buy (the equipment) on my own, hopefully.”
Members can also avail special rates for training courses and services according to Mugol.
“We have a month-to-month membership at fifty dollars, or we have an annual membership that gives you a thirty-three percent discount overall,” said Mugol. “As a member you will have access, special pricing for certain services and other benefits that pop up throughout the year.”
To see the membership packages and to enroll visit www.guamgreengrowth.org today or visit the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
First Sirena Festival highlights ocean preservation and culture
The first ever Sirena Festival was held in the island’s capital of Hågatña and highlighted the importance of ocean conservation and cultural preservation.
The event organized by the Hågatña Restoration and Redevelopment Authority featured vendors from many local businesses and community groups.
Amongst them were the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability, UOG Sea Grant, Guam NSF EPSCoR, Guam Green Growth, NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance, Guampedia and more.
“This is a really fun event and it is great to be outdoors with the family learning about some of the history of Guam,” said Yigo resident Judith Anderson. “It almost feels like we are back to normal.”
The UOG CIS outreach booth featured topics including ridge to reef education, sea turtle preservation, Sustainable Development Goal outreach along with recruitment for various fellowship and internship opportunities.
Guam Green Growth supports Sirena Festival with Oceanside cleanup
In support of the first ever Sirena Festival, Guam Green Growth organized an Oceanside Cleanup to start off the festivities.
Members of the Guam Green Growth, UOG Sea Grant, Guam NSF EPSCoR, UOG Center for Island Sustainability, NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance and Micronesia Challenge teams joined community volunteers for the cleanup which started in the main Paseo park and expanded outwards in both directions.
Vice-Speaker of the 36th Guam Legislature Tina Muña Barnes welcomed and thanked supporters for taking the time out of their weekend to help our island.
She said that taking care of our island is a job we all must do and noted how grateful she was for the community support for the matter.
The cleanup was the second for the week for the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps, who completed a village cleanup the morning before in Sinajana as a part of their weekly island beautification schedule.
Si Yu’os ma’åse’ to Mayor Allan Ungacta, Vice Mayor Kevin Delgado, and their staff at Mangilao MO for hosting our G3 Conservation Corps and G3 team for last week’s island beautification event!
On Friday, the team picked up 18 large bags of trash, 2 large bags of aluminum cans to be recycled, and over 10 white good items along Back Road.
Join us for more of our island beautification events and help keep Guam clean! Stay tuned for details.
Our G3 Conservation Corps was at Valley of the Latte Farms last week!
The Corps was hard at work preparing and putting up approximately 700 feet of chain link fence, clearing about 1,500 feet of the path along the fences, among other activities. The fencing will help keep the food crops safe from balåku (wild boar).
Some parts of the week were spent sorting recycling bins with Peggy Denney of i*recycle and assisting the Southern Soil & Water Conservation District with prepping for a tree-planting event in Inalåhan.
#InTheNews - Our View: New Year is time for reflection
Published in the Pacific Daily News Photo by Rick Cruz
We enter 2022 as we entered 2021: under the shadow of a pandemic that continues to end lives and destroy livelihoods.
This is traditionally the time when we can reflect on what we, as a community, could have done better in 2021, and what we can do to make things better for everyone on the island in 2022.
One of the bright spots of the year was the work done by Guam Green Growth, which worked to keep the island clean and promote sustainability. The group distributed reusable shopping bags, started a community garden in Hagåtña, graduated its first conservation corps and is getting ready to open a maker space in CHamoru Village…
UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant assist with aquaculture feasibility study with big implications for Guam’s future
Hawai’i-based aquaculture expert Jim Wyban spoke at the monthly aquaculture stakeholders meeting on Thursday, Dec 9, at the UOG College of Natural and Applied Sciences.
The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant have been tapped to assist in a feasibility study that explores the potential of aquaculture as a viable industry on the island.
Hawai’i-based aquaculture expert Jim Wyban spoke about the study at the monthly aquaculture stakeholders meeting on Thursday, Dec 9, at the UOG College of Natural and Applied Sciences.
The Guam Economic Development Authority commissioned Wyban to develop the study with funding support from the FY 2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental grant.
The “Guam Aquaculture Industry Feasibility Study” components include site analysis and a conceptual design for an aquaculture center, which would be the first of its kind on Guam.
While on Guam, Wybanworked with UOG Sea Grant aquaculture extension specialist David Crisostomo. They visited several potential sites for the center and conducted meetings with stakeholders.
UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant aquaculture specialist David Crisostomo and the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps take a look at Aquaponics systems at UOG.
“I am trying to learn as much as I can about aquaculture on Guam — what happened in the past and what’s possible for the future. In addition, we are looking at sites that are possibilities for this concept, which will be a Guam Aquaculture Innovation Center,” Wyban said.
He added that the facility would be like the Fadian hatchery but on a larger scale. “It is focused on innovation in aquaculture, using and demonstrating, adapting to and developing the newest technologies.”
Wyban said he is modeling the proposed facility to the Hawai’i Ocean Science and Technology Park. “Basically, it is a state-owned facility that subleases sites within the facility to commercial companies. There are like 35 aquaculture companies down there,” he said.
The park is administered by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i Authority, whose mission is to develop and diversify the Hawai’i economy by providing resources and facilities for energy and ocean-related research, education, and commercial activities in an environmentally sound and culturally sensitive manner.
At the meeting, several speakers also touched on the local and federal permitting requirements for an aquaculture business or facility on Guam. Wyban said that having a streamlined permitting process is crucial to attracting potential investors to the local aquaculture industry.
According to Wyban, the feasibility study will be completed by March 2022.
The UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant have been working to develop aquaculture opportunities on Guam, recently completing setup and fish introduction at the first community aquaculture system at Island Girl Power in Dededo.
The group has held training sessions with stakeholders and partners and plans to set up aquaculture systems at various community centers and non-profit organizations as a continuation of the program in the coming year.
