Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a Dec. 28th memorandum, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga established the Energy Security Committee and appointed nine members. And the new directive supersedes provisions of a 2020 memo, which established the Energy Security Commission.

“Energy security is among the critical issues that affects the health and safety of our people,” Lemanu said in the memo to cabinet members. “Therefore, an Energy Security Committee is appointed to assess our energy resources and propose policies that will ensure an adequate, safe and stable energy supply while seeking renewable means.”

According to the memo, the committee shall report to the governor no fewer times than once a quarter. Those reports should include proposed legislation and changes to rules and policies that promote an adequate, safe and stable energy supply.

Members of the committee are: the Territorial Energy Office director (who is also chair), Governor’s Resilience Office director (who is co-char), American Samoa Petroleum Cooperative director, Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management director, Commerce director, Port Administration director, American Samoa Power Authority chief executive officer, and American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency director.

Members may designate another person to serve in their place by notifying the committee chair and the Governor’s Office in writing.

Samoa News notes that Governor’s Resilience Office was established this week by Lemanu’s executive order.