Solar Installation Training

Twenty-five Virgin Islanders sat Friday morning in the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center poised to become part of the Green Revolution. The residents were being oriented in the Virgin Islands first Solar Water Heating Installation Training Program.

The V. I. Energy Office, the V.I. Department of Labor and the V.I. Department of Education are partnering in the program being funded in part by the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009.The students heard from Willard John, Principal at the St. Croix Career & Technical Education Center. John said the program covered a new and emerging technology and the program offered residents an opportunity to get a foot in the door for a new career. He outlined the four components of the 10-week training – on-line classroom; pre-construction basics; hands-on, in –shop training; and finally on the job training. He said, “We will do our part. We want you to do yours.”

He emphasized that there would be support for the students to help them develop into this trade. He said, “We have your back.”Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr. also spoke to the students. He said the reason the Labor Department was excited about this program was because any one looking at the future could see that the future was in Green trades. He said, “No one is thinking about building a house now without thinking of incorporating some sort of alternative energy.”  He added that he hoped the training would encourage the students to take advantage of entrepreneurial and manufacturing opportunities.

Patricia Lord, Program Administrator at the Energy Office, told the students, “We are investing in you and we want you to succeed.” She added that she saw the program developing the renewable energy market in the Virgin Islands as well as creating jobs.Also speaking to students were instructors Kelly Gloger and Labon Rogers.

In this initial training project, the V.I. Government hopes to train 75 residents – 30 from St. Croix, 30 from St. Thomas and 15 from St. John.  Bryan mentioned that classes will be started on St. Thomas in the near future. Information about the program is available at the Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas or St. John; or the V.I. Career Technical & Adult Education Institute: Raphael O. Wheatley Skill Center St. Thomas, at 774-6277; or St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, Kingshill, St. Croix at 778-2216.

Solar Training Program to Begins

The V. I. Energy Office, V.I. Department of Labor and the V.I. Department of Education are partnering to put stimulus funds to work in the territory. The Department of Education began testing candidates Wednesday who had been directed to Education by the Department of Labor to be included in a solar pre-apprentice training program.
       The 20-week course is being funded by the Energy Office and Labor with funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The course will include on-line training, hands-on training in the class room and on-the-job training.
       The course is designed to give residents who complete it the opportunity to become employed in the solar industry especially in the installation of solar water heaters. During the training students may assist in installing solar water heaters on government buildings or buildings owned by non-profit agencies. Many solar water heaters are expected to be installed in the Virgin Islands as part of the ARRA stimulus funds.
       In this initial training project, the V.I. Government hopes to train 75 residents – 30 from St. Croix, 30 from St. Thomas and 15 from St. John. Classes have tentatively been set to start on July 15.
       Residents interested in participating in the classes should contact the Department of Labor:  
St Croix
Sunny Isle Shopping Center Store #4,
Tel: 773-1440
St. Thomas
53A &54AB Kronprindsens Gade
Tel 776-3700
       Information about the program is also available at the Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774.3320 on St. Thomas or St. John; or the V.I. Career Technical & Adult Education Institute: Raphael O. Wheatley Skill Center St. Thomas, at  774-6277; or St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, Kingshill, St. Croix at 778-2216.

  The 14th annual Junior Solar Sprint held Friday, April 3, at Sunny Isle Shopping Center provided an exciting, fun and educational way for junior high students to learn about solar energy. More than 100 students from 18 schools on St. Thomas and St. Croix entered; racing model solar-powered cars they built from kits donated by the Virgin Islands Energy Office.
       Gov. John P. deJongh joined the crowd Friday giving support to the students and looking at their cars. He even chipped in with some help as he sat at the finish line as a  lane judge for a couple of the races.
     “I am supportive of the kids at anything fun and educational,” said Gov. deJongh. “It all builds knowledge of solar energy. They see the potential use of solar energy in the Virgin Islands. There are a lot of potential engineers here. ”
     The excitement was evident with the students nervously waiting for their turns on the six-lane, 66-foot track set up in the Wendy’s' parking lot.
     Kasim Andrews, Program Monitor, at the Energy Office and race starter, kept the students moving at the starting line. With an ongoing monologue, he kept them prepared on the starting line and ready to go when the sun was at its brightest.
     Arthur A. Richards Junior High took first, second, and third in the speed category and  St. Peter and Paul placed fourth. The winning team consisted of Kerion Andrew and Rashed Gomez.  Antilles School took fifth place and Free Will Baptist took sixth. St. Peter and Paul took home first, second and third in the Design category with Antilles getting fourth place, Manor School fifth and John Woodson sixth.
     At the end of the afternoon, after students had enjoyed lunch at Wendy's, an award ceremony was held.  Director Bevan R. Smith of the Energy Office complimented participants on their efforts. Although the event is sponsored by the V.I. Energy Office, other government agencies and local businesses take part. The Department of Education supplies transportation for the students; Department of Public Works supplies barricades, Fire Services hoses off the site the evening before the race to make sure the track area is smooth, Sunny Isle Shopping Center provided the venue, GT Trucking provided trash bins, and Wendy’s Restaurant and Shuama Gas Station provided ice. Volunteers from the Department of Natural Resources helped set up the tent and track as did students from the University of the Virgin Islands. Co-sponsors of the event include : Supply Resources Incorporated, Quality Auto Parts, and West Indian Company.

Solar Race on St. Thomas

April 19, 2007 --The V.I. Energy Office is sponsoring two days of racing in its Junior Solar Sprint Race competition this year. The first race was held on April 13 on St. Croix and had 11 schools with 62 students participating from St. Croix and St. John. For filmed highlights of the event click here. Ten students won eligibility to travel to St. Thomas and run in the finals set for May 11 at Charlotte Amalie High School.
     Forty-two St. Thomas students from seven schools were originally scheduled to travel to St. Croix to compete in April but last minute complications caused the ferry to cancel the special trip for the students. For story by Carol Buchanan in the St. Croix Source, click here.
    Bevan R. Smith Jr., director of the Energy Office, said he knew this was a disappointment to the St. Thomas students, so he is scheduling another competition on that island.
     No trophies or certificates were given at the April 13 event to school teams winning in the design or speed categories event. The teams' design scores were tallied and they will be kept until the St. Thomas schools are judged using the same criteria. The top design teams were not announced. In the speed category on St. Croix  the Arthur A. Richards School was the big winner with teams from that school taking first and third place. The first-place team was comprised of Rahman Smart and Josh Eusbe. Second place went to IQRA Educational Center with teammates Eman Abdelghani and Amaal Idheileh. Third-place winners were Inle Amos and Jenell Watts.
     Susan Cissel form Kingshill School said, "My students had a wonderful time designing the car. The kids are very excited; they placed in the first heat. We got in on the tail end of the program; we hope to get started earlier next year."
     This year the event was blessed with sun, making the cars go relatively fast. Last year, several races had to be delayed because of heavy cloud cover.
     Each school was given three car kits by the Energy Office, which is a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The students used the motor and solar panel from the kits, but they could be creative with design.
     Don Buchanan, a spokesman for the Energy Office, said, "We were disappointed that the St. Thomas students could not make the event, but pleased overall with the performance of the schools that did participate. It was easy to see. The students were having fun and learning about the power of the sun at the same time."
     Students participating were seventh- and eighth-graders. For more information about the race call Don Buchanan at 773.1082, ext. 2239. Teachers and students who want to learn more about the race can click here and watch a video.-- dsl; or dialup.

Students set for solar car races on April 13

Students from 25 schools have started working on building solar power cars. The V.I. Energy Office has delivered three kits to each of the schools. The student will build cars from the kits in preparation for race day on April 13. The race will be held at Sunny Isles parking lot by Wendy’s Restaurant.
The five top speed teams will be recognized with trophies and certificates. The five teams with the best designed solar cars will also be recognized. The only real limiting factor on the students creativity is that the car was be strictly powered using the solar panel.
This is the 12th year that the V.I. Energy Office has sponsored the race. Each school will have three teams with two students on each team. About 150 students will be participating. Half of them will be traveling from St. Thomas and St. John for the event.
The V.I. Energy Office, a division of Department of Planning and Natural Resources, sponsors this event to encourage youngsters’ interest in alternative fuels and solar energy.
The Energy office is considering sponsoring a race of cars fueled by hydrogen next year.Teachers and students who want to learn more about the race can click here and watch a video.-- dsl; or dialup.

Participating schools this year include St. Patrick’s, Arthur A. Richards Jr. High, Good Hope, John H. Woodson Jr. High, Manor School, Elena Christian Jr. High. Country Day School Positive Connection, St. Mary’s, School of the Good Shepherd, Free Will Baptist, Church Of God Academy (Stx), AZ Academy, Iqra Educational Center,  Seventh Day Adventist,  Antilles, Bertha C. Boschulte, St. Peter and Paul, All Saints, Addelita Cancryn, Montessori School, Moravian School, Church ff God Academy (Stt), Julius Sprauve, and the St. John School.

Energy Office Awards Checks to Schools

Nov. 20, 2006 -- Principals from the Elena L. Christian Jr. High and the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary Schools each received checks for $22,500 from Leila Muller of the V.I. Energy Office this month. The two schools successfully applied to the Energy Office to become part of its Adopt-A-School Program.

The V.I. Energy Office, a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, initiated the program in 2004 to help schools with innovative approaches to energy education and energy conservation.

Both schools have had energy audits by A-Phix Maintenance Solutions and are awaiting a report on how best to make the school more energy efficient. The funds are to be broken down with $20,000 being dedicated to building retrofits and $2,500 to assist in the development of energy oriented curriculum.

Muller, who is a program monitor at the Energy Office, presented the checks to Maria Encarnacion at Pearl Larsen and to Willard John at Elena Christian. The funds for the grant came through the federally administrated Stripper Well fund. She commented, “These educators have shown a commitment to their students and community by taking part in this program.”

Bevan R. Smith, Jr., director of the Energy Office, added that he was very pleased with these two schools and their participation in the program. He said that the Energy Office is making an effort this month to also bring some schools from St. Thomas into the program.In her application Encarnacion said, “Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School was built in 1971 and, consequently, a host of energy problems exists.” She said most of the problems concerned lighting and air conditioning.

Energy Education Experience

Target audience(s):            Students, teachers, administrators, other school personnel, and parents throughout the Territory.

General Education Outreach

Target audience(s): Students, Motorists, General Public, Engineers, Architects, Installers, and Plumbers

The goal of this activity is to maximize energy, environmental, and economic benefits through outreach activities and increased collaboration at the community level.  The VIEO will coordinate outreach activities during Energy Awareness Month, Virgin Islands Energy Education Week, Earth Day, St. Croix and St. Thomas Agriculture and Food Fairs, and the Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Competition.  The VIEO will conduct transportation energy efficiency seminars and promote electric hybrid vehicles.  Through collaboration at the state level, community presentations on EERE will be targeted to potential homebuyers of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority programs and residents of the VI Housing Authority. Workshops will be offered to other government agencies, community groups, civic and professional organizations, and the general public at-large. For more information click here to e-mail Kinesha Sylvester.

Information Outreach

Target audience(s):            General Public

Given the critical state of the local utility’s efficiency that result in extremely high electricity rates, the goal of this activity is to inform the general public about EERE technology, programs, trends, and tips.  This will be accomplished via the Web Page, TV and radio spots, newsletters, fact sheets, and posters.  The specific objectives of this activity are media marketing campaigns for all functions and their activities, public service announcements, written publications, and promotion of the VIEO Web Page.  Additionally, the VIEO will implement a Territory-wide Energy Star Campaign through partnership with the EPA program. For more information click here to e-mail Kinesha Sylvester.

Discretionary Grant Program

Target audience(s):            Not-For-Profit, Government, Schools/Institutions

The Discretionary Grant Program (DGP) encourages and aims to expand EERE projects through competitive grant-seeking proposals.  The DGP seeks to fund EERE projects that benefit the entire community, or a significant percent of the population.  Funds will be awarded to selected proposals that include a cost-share (in-kind or cash) of at least 20 percent of the grant amount requested.  The DGP target population is not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, schools, and institutions.  Grants are available for Energy Research and Education, and under the Energy Education Mini-Grant Program.  Grant applications must demonstrate quantifiable energy savings or innovation. For more information about education programs e-mail Patricia Lord.