Kyle Fleming the State Energy Programs Summer Intern aided Christopher Fredricks in the inspections of rebated Solar Water Heaters through the Sun Power Loan Program. Throughout the summer Kyle and Chris have performed over 25 inspections on both St. Croix and St. Thomas. Kyle is a Graduate of Lehigh University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently pursuing his Masters of Science in Energy Systems at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He is show here with a resident of Hannah’s Rest.
Energy Star Rebate Program Nears End The Virgin Islands Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, announces that its Energy Star appliance rebate program will end on August 15. Energy Office Director Bevan R. Smith Jr. said, “The program is a victim of its own success. Over 1,700 residents have participated in the program and benefitted from stimulus funds.” The Energy Office had originally budget $500,000 for the program that rebated 30 percent of the purchase cost to residents who purchased energy efficient appliances. A request has been made to the Department of Energy to increase that budget by $230,000. The program began in September of 2009 and is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Purchases made before August 15, 2010 will be eligible to receive rebates, but the applications must be turn into the Energy Office before Sept. 15, 2010. So far $274,000 in payments have been made in the program and an amount almost equal is still pending. Smith added, “The Energy Office processed almost double the applications predicted. Although, some returns were not as quick as we would have liked, no major problems occurred.” This will not affect the Energy Office’s rebate program for alternative energy systems or its solar water heater programs or rebates for certain other energy efficiency items. The solar water heater program still has about $3 million in funds to be expended and the renewable energy rebate program has $2 million left to expend. For additional information, contact the Energy Office at 713-8436, St. Croix, or 714-8436, St. Thomas.
New Locationfor St. Thomas Energy Office The Virgin Islands Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office has relocated its St. Thomas office to Suite 231 in the Tutu Park Mall, near the Food Court. The office has a new phone number and fax, respectively 714-8436 and 776-1914. Its mailing address is 4605 Tutu Mall, Suite 231, St. Thomas. The St. Thomas office used to be located upstairs at the Cyril E. King Airport. The Energy Office on St. Croix also recently moved into the building next to its old office in Estate Mars Hill. Its phone number is now 713-8436. Its Fax number remains the same, 772-0063. Its mailing address is 4101 Mars Hill, Frederiksted, 00840-3793. See locator map below. Walk-in rebate applications will be accepted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at both offices.For information about Virgin Islands energy programs, call 713-8436, St. Croix, or 714-8436, St. Thomas.
Mars Hill, St. Croix
Governor De Jongh moves on study of possible inter-island connection with Puerto Rico, BVIs
Gov. John P. de Jongh Jr. recently executed an agreement between the Virgin Islands Energy Office and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to conduct a feasibility study of an inter-island electrical connection. The execution of the agreement is part of the administration’s strategy to assist WAPA in expanding its energy portfolio options in order to reduce the territory’s almost sole reliance on fossil fuel for the production of electricity and potable water. “The feasibility study will evaluate whether the creation of an interconnection between Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and even linking to the British Virgin Islands is practical and can assist us in mitigating rate increases that impact our residents”, de Jongh said. The grant is funded by $475,750 from a Congressionally Directed Project through the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory and $118,938 in matching funds from WAPA. The Water and Power Authority will study the feasibility of inter-connecting the power grids between St. Thomas and St. Croix, between St. Thomas and Puerto Rico and between St. John and the British Virgin Islands. The study would select the appropriate submarine cable types, ensure the feasibility of high voltage direct current (HVDC), analyze the required power system’s new configuration, provide inter-connection preliminary cost estimates and conduct a benefits analysis that will evaluate such factors as the system’s reliability, operating costs, future capital investment needs, and any other potential benefits of an interconnected system. A Request for Proposal has already been issued for release this week.“Inter-connecting one or more of these grids provides opportunities for WAPA to reduce its fuel consumption through four strategic approaches. By inter-connecting the grids, WAPA could reduce its spinning reserves, buy power from Puerto Rico at a rate lower than it can produce, purchase wind power from the British Virgin Islands and begin to increase the electricity grid that would allow for a higher amount of renewable energy to be incorporated into its generation mix,” according to WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge. Reducing WAPA’s fuel consumption would not only provide a measure of price stability for rate payers, but would help the territory move towards meeting the goals that the governor recently announced as part of the Energy Development in Island Nations (“EDIN”) initiative. “The potential benefits of increased reliability and lower electrical cost make the pursuit of grid interconnection without neighbors a very attractive venture,” said V.I. Energy Office Director BevanSmith. “We have great partnerships on this project with the federal government who view this as possible the first link in a Caribbean-wide power grid.”In executing the agreement the governor said, “The collaboration between the Delegate’s Office and my office on energy issues; the ongoing partnership between WAPA and the Energy Office and the financial and technical assistance from the federal government has made this study possible. Through these relationships, we are already reaping dividends for the people of the territory for years to come.”Hodge also said Monday that officials of WAPA will participate in various meetings in Washington, D.C. in mid-July as the Authority seeks funding for the inter-connect project. Meetings are scheduled with officials of the U.S. Department of Commerce; Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner; Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We are committed to improving the reliability of our system both for normal and emergency operation. The interconnection of these two grids will improve stability and add fuel diversity for the Virgin Islands,” Hodge added.
Government Projects to Save Energy
Governor John P. deJongh Jr. has executed four Memoranda of Agreement to use over $9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding for energy efficiency initiatives in the government.
The execution of the agreements between the Virgin Islands Energy Office and the Department of Public Works, Water and Power Authority, Port Authority and Waste Management Authority are part of our overall strategy to reduce energy use,” de Jongh said. “They are also part of our efforts to improve our approach to managing government affairs by achieving energy efficiency in government buildings and facilities, consistency and management of our street lighting, and implementing a gas-treatment system at one of our landfills.The availability and access to ARRA funding has enabled us to be creative and to implement programs that will have a direct impact on government costs and our approach to energy conservation.”The Department of Public Works will install traffic signal LED bulbs, LED street light bulbs, solar lights in bus shelters, and solar lights on the Christiansted Boardwalk. These projects will cost $964,955 and save the Virgin Islands government about 820,060 kWhs per year. LED or light emitting diodes use half the power that compact fluorescent bulbs utilize and have twice the lifecycle. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority will purchase and install a street light management system and replace high-pressure sodium street light fixtures with LED fixtures. This project will utilize $2.5 million of ARRA funds. It is estimated that this project will save WAPA 700,000 kWhs per year. The Waste Management Authority will install a landfill, gas-to-energy, gas-treatment system at the Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas at an estimated cost of about $3 million. The work will include the installation of generating equipment to use the landfill gas to produce electricity at the Bovoni Landfill. The gas for the generators will be collected with a gas collection system already in progress prior to the grant award. This project is estimated to produce 1.5 million kWhs per year. In the fourth project, the V. I. Port Authority will receive $2.9 million to purchase and install a 335 kW PV solar system at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas. This is expected to produce 485,925 kWhs per year for Port Authority use. At the current electric rate this will save the Port Authority $170,073 annually. Overall, the savings anticipated from these projects will be about $2.1 million per year. “This is a significant milestone in our efforts to achieve the objectives of our comprehensive energy strategy. These government agencies are leading by example as we begin to reduce energy costs and promote clean energy use,” said Bevan R. Smith, Jr., Director of the Energy Office. Smith said it is also the office’s objective to increase efficiency of energy use and production and increase fuel diversity and reliability, therefore, by this summer the central government and large commercial ratepayers will benefit from a long-term, self-sustaining energy demand reduction plan to decrease electricity and water consumption by 46 million kWh and 230 million gallons by 2013. This plan is expected to reduce utility costs in the Virgin Islands at current prices by almost $20 million annually beginning in 2013.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Comprehensive Energy Strategy Plan is complete. To view highlights of the report funded through Grant PA-VI-2008-1, a technical assistant grant from the Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Interior, click here. For a complete copy of the strategy click here.
Energy Accepting ARRA Grant Applications
The Energy Office is set to process applications from non-profit organizations which have energy savings projects that need funding. The first group of applications will be considered in March, 2010. The projects will be funded under the Energy Office’s Discretionary Grant Program which in turn is utilizing funds available from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Approved projects will receive up to $50,000 in funding. The Energy Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, set the foundation for this ramped up version of its Discretionary Grant Program with workshops in November on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Over 50 local organizations sent representatives to the workshops.
The program will run until March 2012 or until funds are exhausted. Specific projects mentioned in the grant application include building retrofits, solar/wind outdoor lighting, and energy education outreach. The program goals are energy savings and job creation -- two key things that the Territory could use at this time.
Interested Non-Profit Organizations are reminded to initiate the process by obtaining a Duns number at www.dnb.com . Successful applicant will have to commit five percent (5%) in matching funds or an equivalent in-kind contribution to the project. The actual grant application can be downloaded from the menubar at the top of this page. For any additional information please call Joseph Daniel at 774-3320 Ext. 6108 on St. Thomas.
Energy Office Sets Workshops for V. I. Builders and Bankers The Virgin Islands Energy Office is holding Developers Incentives Workshops to help developers, builders, architects, and bankers develop practices to cut energy consumption in new and renovated buildings.
The workshops will be presented by JDM Associates, a sustainability consultant company, with offices in Washington D.C. and St. Thomas. The workshops will include discussions on what it means to have a Green Building, new technologies in energy efficiency, tax credits/incentives, mortgages for Green Buildings, and the financial aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The first workshop is scheduled for Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas. The second workshop will be on St. Croix on Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cardiac Care Center at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
The workshops are part of the observance of October as Energy Awareness Month as proclaimed by President Barack Obama. The national theme for the month is A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together.
Hospital to Demonstrate Savings From Solar
Jan. 15, 2009 -- The Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Cardiac Care Center will soon demonstrate how the use of alternative energy can bring down water and electric bills.
The Virgin Islands Energy Office, a division of the governor’s office, has signed an agreement with the hospital to give the hospital a grant of $200,000 to build a 30 kW photovoltaic system. The Energy Office is adding to the cash donation a donation of solar panels valued at another $200,000.
Gov. John P. DeJongh presented the check to Gregory Calliste, CEO of Juan F. Luis Hospital, during a press conference on Jan. 15 at the new Cardiac Care Center. “This gift signifies the tremendous importance and high priority that my Administration places in seeking creative avenues to highlight our collective actions as one government in decreasing overall energy costs in the Territory through the use of clean energy. This endeavor is the first project of its kind in the Territory and signals the vision of the Government Demand Reduction Program in seeking workable solutions to reduce overall operating costs for government facilities. In continuance of our goal to reduce government utility consumption 20 percent by 2012, I am pleased to extend this gift in cooperation with the VI Energy Office of $200,000 in grant money and $200,000 in photovoltaic (solar) panels,” de Jongh said.
The Hospital for its part agrees to assist the Energy Office by demonstrating to other government agencies and departments the benefits of alternative energy and energy efficiency technology. The hospital communication methods will include brochures, tours of the facility, and involvement in discussions on energy issues. The hospital is also responsible for monitoring the cost saving it receives from the installation.
In receiving the check, Calliste said that the hospital recognizes its responsibility to lower its Water and Power Authority bill through energy efficiency and use of alternative energy as much as possible. He said the hospital would do everything in its power to make the project successful.
Energy Office Director Bevan R. Smith Jr. said this project was just one of the many efforts that the Energy Office was making to help the government agencies bring down their WAPA bills.
“Although oil prices are presently down, we don’t want to be lulled into a sense of complacency. The Energy Office is forging ahead to help residents and the government cut down on the use of fossil fuel,” said Smith.
The hospital is getting five hundred, 60-watt solar panels from the Energy Office. The hospital will be required to contribute cash or in-kind services to the project. This contribution will cover other system components such as racks and inverters.
St. Croix Towns Get Efficient Lights
The St. Croix Foundation teamed with the V.I. Energy Office to help efficiently light up the downtowns of Frederiksted and Christiansted. NR Electric, the contractor for the job, is installing this month the last of 50 fixtures in the lighting project in the downtown areas.
Roger Dewey, executive director of the St. Croix Foundation, said along with energy efficiency, beautification and safety for residents were big considerations in doing the project. St. Croix Historic Preservation Office was brought in during the early stages of the project, which was funded with $20,000 from the Energy Office Discretionary Grant program and $4,000 in matching funds from the St. Croix Foundation.
The lights are not designed to go on poles but instead have been specifically designed to be placed on the ceilings of the arcade walkways that line most of Frederiksted and Christiansted's downtown streets. The fixture is designed in such a way as to send light up to be reflected down. The design is to diffuse light in a way pleasant to the eye and also in a way that makes the fixture almost invisible. Another key positive, according to Dewey, is that the lights will only cost about four cents a night to burn.
Dewey said, before the Foundation would install the fixtures on downtown buildings, owners had to commit to leaving the lights on during the night.
Part of the impetus of the project was the volunteer work of St. Croix resident Ray Grenald. Grenald, who designed and donated some fixtures, has worked on lighting projects in Washington, D.C., including one at the White House and another at the Supreme Court.
The fixtures were installed on buildings on King, Strand and Company streets in Christiansted and King and Strand streets in Frederiksted.Myron Jackson, director of the Preservation Office, said at a press conference announcing the project, when the lights are installed, "People's instinctual feelings about downtown will change. They will want to be downtown in the evening. They will feel safe."
For information about the St. Croix Foundation call 773-9898.
Global Warming a Concern for Virgin Islanders
Aug. 25, 2008 -- V.I. residents, government officials, and environmental organizations have taken the threat of Global Warming seriously. The V.I. Energy Office, in the spring of 2007, in conjunction with the V.I. Water and Power Authority, started showing the movie An Inconvenient Truth at various venues in the territory.
The Energy Office followed the showings with presentations to students and also to community organizations such as the Rotary Clubs on St. Thomas and St. John and a territorial realtor’s association meeting. Virgin Islands PBS Channel 12 presented a program Graffiti Street dedicated to Global Warming.
The St Croix Environmental Association has also been active in promoting events calling attention to problems associated with Global Warming.
The Energy Office plans to have more educational presentations on Global Warming in October. Any school or organization interested in such a presentation or a showing of a film is asked to call the Energy Office at 773.1082 or email dbuchanan@vienergy.org.
In June,three dozen St. Croix residents gathered at the University of Virgin Islands Great Hall to hear opinions on how the Global Warming problem should be solved. They all agreed the issue needed more public focus. They discussed becoming part of the World Wildlife Fund's Climate Witness Programme.
On Feb. 2, 2007, the United Nations scientific panel studying climate change declared that the evidence of a warming trend is "unequivocal," and that human activity has "very likely" been the driving force in that change over the last 50 years.
According to the New York Times, “The addition of that single word "very" did more than reflect mounting scientific evidence that the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes and burning forests has played a central role in raising the average surface temperature of the earth by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900. It also added new momentum to a debate that now seems centered less over whether humans are warming the planet, but instead over what to do about it.”
Virgin Islanders have special concerns about Global Warming. Rising sea levels could have a dramatic effect on sea side homes and businesses and rising ocean temperatures could negatively affect the health of local coral reefs.
Already the coral reefs are in trouble. A report issued by the World Conservation Union earlier this year says the problem became critically apparent in 2005 when coral bleaching hit Caribbean reefs hard. The report indicates that year was the warmest ever recorded.
Over 50 percent of the coral died in four sites reviewed by the National Park Service.
In June 2007, a group of experts at the St. Thomas UVI campus called Global Warming an “uncontrolled experiment” which could have disastrous results for the Virgin Islands. They pointed out that the death of coral reefs would not only hurt the economy of the islands but it would hurt the overall health of many ocean species up the food chain.
For more information about Global Warming, one can scroll down on this page and see a presentation by Al Gore.
Energy Office Wins Award From SEA
The St. Croix Environmental Association awarded its Good Government Award for 2007 to the V.I. Energy Office at its annual meeting in November at the Buccaneer Hotel and Resort on St. Croix.
Carol Cramer-Burke, program manager for 500 member organization, in presenting the award, said that the Energy Office has worked hard in the last year promoting good environmental policy. She emphasized the Energy Office’s rebate program for residents who invest in alternative energy and the Junior Solar Sprint program which helps teach students about solar power.
She also pointed out that the Energy Office, a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, during the last year had partnered with SEA in showing environmental films free to residents at the University of Virgin Islands.
She said, “We have enjoyed working to with the Energy Office this year and look forward to working with the office in the future.” She added, after the meeting that SEA which was organized in 1986 does not present a Good Government Award every year. She explained, “We award it only when we see an agency that warrants special attention for its environmental action and programs and the Energy Office definitely fits that description.”
Paul Chakroff, SEA new managing director, presented the award to the Energy Office Don Buchanan. Buchanan said, “The Energy Office enjoyed working with SEA and we too look for more future partnerships.”
May Cornwall, executive director of the V.I. Waste Management Authority, gave the keynote speech at the meeting. Also speaking was Richard Smullen, vice president of environmental health and safety at Hovensa.
Carlos Tesitor and Ditty Layton were recognized for their years of service with SEA and. Lisa Yntema won the Environmentalist of the Year award, but was not present to receive it.
Connections to sizing forms, reports, presentations, and recent news articles The U.S. Department of Interior gathered information from various Virgin Island agencies last summer and then compiled an Energy Assessment report. The report contained many recommendations for switching to alternative energy sources on the islands. The report can be read by clicking here.
If you are interested in going solar, you can click here and go to a site which will help you determine was size system you need. The Energy Office has conducted year-long wind assessment studies on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. For the results of the first six months click here. For the addendum click here.
The New York Times recently published an article surveying various books on Global Warming. The article, entitled How Close to Catastrophe?, can be read by clicking here.
The V.I. Energy Office Director Bevan R. Smith Jr. made a presentation to the V.I Public Services Commission on the need for Net Metering on the islands. To see his typed notes for that presentation click here. To see his slide presentation, Click here. (This is a large file that may take several minutes to download)
The V.I. Energy Office has speakers available for community organization meetings and for school classrooms.
The speakers can talk on a variety subjects – energy efficiency, solar power, wind energy, net metering, lowering your WAPA bill, and global warming.
If your group or your class would like to schedule a speaker please call 773.1082 on St. Croix or 774.3320 on St. John or St. Thomas.
You can also make a request by clicking here and e-mailing Patricia Lord, Program Administrator, or calling her at ext 2251 at the St. Croix office.
Four solar systems certified to supply electricity to WAPA, see Daily News story --
Leonardo Dicaprio has made a film on Global Warming. Go to this web site to see it.
The road show
The Energy Office takes its show on the road often. Displays include a solar system that produces energy and also a lot of information about wind and energy efficiency.
Signs of the Future
On Nov. 18, 2006, the New York Times published an article about the passage of the first carbon tax. Two days later the Washington Post published an article A Sunnier Forecast for Solar Energy. Readers who follow the above links might notice a trend here.
Welcome to the Virgin Islands Energy Office web site
The site contains information on renewable energy and energy efficient programs implemented in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Documents are also available here for downloading so the web site can serve as a tool for Virgin Islanders attempting to remedy the adverse effects of the skyrocketing cost of petroleum.The site links residents to opportunities through the Energy Office, the U.S. Department of Energy and its partnering agencies to improve the quality of life on the islands.
To sign up for the Energy Office's newsletter just click here and send an e-mail.
To visit our featured site this summer and calculate your savings when you install a solar water heater, click here.
The projects will be funded under the Energy Office’s Discretionary Grant Program which in turn is utilizing funds available from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Approved projects will receive up to $50,000 in funding. The Energy Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, set the foundation for this ramped up version of its Discretionary Grant Program with workshops in November on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Over 50 local organizations sent representatives to the workshops.
down water and electric bills.
