USVI WAPA Solar Project Signing-Ceremony
The Caribbean journal reports on an agreement signed this week for a large-scale solar power project in the US Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) has signed solar power and purchase and interconnection agreements with three companies to provide energy for the territory.
Governor John de Jongh and officials attended a signing ceremony on Monday 4th June, 2012 at Government House, St. Thomas .
The agreement will provide approximately nine megawatts of solar energy per district into WAPA’s electrical grid.
“There’s no doubt that for many of us, the issue of cost of energy is something that each of us is extremely sensitive to,” USVI Governor John de Jongh said following the ceremony Monday. “Today with the signing of these agreements, with the negotiations that have taken place, this is but one step in the process WAPA is taking to diversify its generation portfolio.”
The US Virgin Islands suffered a major blow to its energy supply when the HOVENSA oil refinery, the largest in the Caribbean, closed earlier this year. It had been the primary source of fuel for the territory. According to WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge, Jr, the 18 megawatts of solar power will represent approximately 15 percent of the USVI’s peak load.
Read the full article at the Caribbean journal
