An Act to amend 2 CMC par. 4483 by adding a new subsection (c) and for other purposes (P.L. 15-26)

1 Section 1. Findings. The Legislature finds that because of the increase in fuel prices 2 and the uncertainty of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation's power generation capability 3 and the incessant and perennial problems with the availability of water, it is necessary for the

4 Commonwealth to look into other methods of power generation and a water reservoir system 5 for residential homes. Because of the Commonwealth's geographical location, an endless 6 supply of the sun's abundant and clean energy remains untapped. Rain water is also 7 available, but the problem of dependable water supply remains a perennial concern for most 8 home owners.

9 Energy from the sun can be categorized in two ways: (1) in the form of heat (or 10 thermal energy), and (2) in the form oflight energy. Solar thermal technologies use the sun's 11 heat energy to heat substances, such as water or air, for applications such as space heating, 12 pool heating and water heating for homes and businesses. There are a variety of products on 13 the market that utilize thermal energy. Often the products used for this application are called 14 solar thermal collectors and can be mounted on the roof of a building or in some other sunny 15 location. The sun's heat can also be used to produce electricity on a large utility-scale by 16 converting the sun's heat energy into mechanical energy. For similar reasons, the abundance 17 of rain could be captured as useable water through a proper collection and storage system in 18 order to supplement the constant water shortage on the island. PUBLIC LAW NO. 15-26 HOUSE BILL No.15-144

1 The Legislature finds that the Commonwealth homeowner stands to benefit from the 2 implementation of solar energy usage by including such technologies into the development of 3 new homes as well as the installation of an affordable water collection and storage system.

4 The Legislature further finds that it is feasible to grant the Northern Marianas Housing

5 Corporation the authority to either require all new home loan applicants to incorporate solar 6 thermal technologies into their new home developments or develop a separate solar thermal 7 technologies loan program that will provide loans for homeowners to install such 8 technologies into their homes.

9 Section 2. Amendment. 2 CMC § 4483 is hereby amended by adding a new 10 subsection (c) to read as follows:

11 "(c) NMHC shall require through regulation that all new home loan 12 applicants, on a voluntary basis, may incorporate solar thermal technologies and/or a 13 water collection and storage system into their new home developments applying 14 similar internal rates for home loans or develop a separate loan program that will 15 provide loans for homeowners to install such solar thermal technologies and/or a 16 water collection and storage system into their homes."

17 Section 3. Severability. If any provision of this Act or the application of any such 18 provision to any person or circumstance should be held invalid by a court of competent 19 jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act or the application of its provisions to persons or 20 circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby.

21 Section 4. Savings Clause. This Act and any repealer contained herein shall not be 22 construed as affecting any existing right acquired under contract or acquired under statutes 23 repealed or under any rule, regulation or order adopted under the statutes. Repeaters 24 contained in this Act shall not affect any proceeding instituted under or pursuant to prior law.

25 The enactment of the Act shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modifying, 26 any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence on the date this Act 27 becomes effective. Page2 PUBLIC LAW NO. 15-26 HOUSE BILL No.15-144

1 Section 5. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the

2 Governor or its becoming law without such approval. CERTIFIED BY: ATTESTED TO BY: ~ (~NG _M, __?f_R_0 _Yt_DJ_ontbls .dcl~yor ,2006 GNO R. FITIAL GOVERNOR COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Page3