Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Port Administration of American Samoa (PAAS) is advancing plans and development of a major solar energy and battery storage project at Pago Pago International Airport (PPG), an initiative designed to strengthen energy resilience, reduce long-term power costs, and support future economic development on airport property.

The Airport Solar Farm Project is designed to generate approximately 25 megawatts (MW) of solar power, making it the largest solar energy generation project in American Samoa. It will also include approximately 20 MW / 80 MWh of battery energy storage capacity, providing the ability to store renewable energy and improve the reliability and availability of power. 

The project is structured as a Public-Private Partnership with Eastern Power Solutions, which has secured all necessary federal and local approvals, including federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and construction approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and PNRS Board. Eastern Power Solutions is providing full financing for the project, so its development and construction will come at no cost to PAAS or American Samoa taxpayers. The solar farm is targeted to be fully operational by the end of 2027.

“This project is about more than powering the airport and new passenger terminal,” said Port Administration Director Barney Sene. “It is about creating the robust energy infrastructure necessary to support the airport’s future growth while contributing to American Samoa’s broader energy needs.”

A primary objective of the project is to provide a reliable, cost-effective (inexpensive) source of electricity for Pago Pago International Airport and future commercial development on airport property as outlined in the Airport Vision 2030 (paas2030vision.com) which includes hotels, a convention center, restaurants, retail shops, and other commercial facilities, transforming the airport area into a stronger economic and visitor gateway for American Samoa.

Power generated beyond the airport’s needs would be made available to the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA). This additional renewable generation would help address the island’s overall energy demand, reduce dependence on imported fuel, and contribute to efforts to lower electricity costs for residents and businesses.

The solar farm will transform the former Tafuna Village Scrap Metal Depository, a 7-acre site that has long concerned the community, into a source of clean, locally generated power for American Samoa, with technical planning and project development ongoing. 

The physical footprint of the solar farm project is within the boundaries evaluated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) during its Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) of the Tafuna Village Scrap Metal Depository. 

The TBA evaluation of the 7-acre site incorporated detailed scientific testing and soil sample analysis. Through this process, elevated levels of benzo(a)pyrene, copper, lead, thallium, zinc, and asbestos were identified, exceeding established Pacific Basin Screening Levels. Furthermore, the assessment provided calculations regarding the total volume and depth of remaining site debris. Because a solar farm requires very limited ground disturbance, it is one of the few developments suited to a brownfield site like this one, offering a tremendous opportunity to put land that has sat unusable back to work for the island. 

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) continues to work with Port Administration for the areas within and outside of the TBA.

The 25MW Tafuna Solar Project is part of Port Administration’s broader efforts to modernize American Samoa’s transportation infrastructure, strengthen energy resilience, and position airport property for competitive future economic development.

Additional information regarding the project, including final generation and battery-storage specifications, development milestones, and construction schedule, will be released as planning progresses.