Guam lawmakers approved controversial bills Friday night authorizing the CHamoru Land Trust Commission to solicit bids for a quarry on a Mangilao lot and to amend the Guam International Country Club lease to allow a solar farm.
If Bill 7-38 becomes law, a CLTC lot between the Gloria B. Nelson Public Service Building and Fadian Cove can be used for "mass grading and mineral extraction," according to the bill. The site contains limestone in demand by the construction industry, which can generate money for infrastructure on homestead lots.
The property can later be used for homesteads, according to the legislation. It passed by a vote of 9-5, with Sens. Therese Terlaje, Chris Barnett, William Parkinson, Sabina Perez and Telo Taitague voting against the measure. Sen. Vince Borja was excused.
Bill 135-38 would amend the 2014 lease of property to the Guam International Country Club to allow "the generation, storage, and transmission of renewable solar energy."
The bill passed by a vote of 8-6, with Speaker Frank Blas Jr. and Sens. Shelly Calvo, Terlaje, Barnett, Perez and Taitague opposed.
Both bills drew opposition from protesters.
Opponents sang “Fanohge CHamoru” before the solar farm vote, with Blas asking people in the gallery to allow senators to vote.
During debate on the measures, senators weighed the environmental concerns with the need for money, infrastructure and property for the CHamoru Land Trust Commission, which has thousands of beneficiaries waiting for lots.
The bills head to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who has 10 days to veto the bills, sign them into law or allow them to lapse into law.
