Energy Office
45 Estate Mars Hill
Frederiksted, VI, 00840
Telephone 340.773.1082
Fax 772.0063

St. Thomas Office
Cyril E. King Airport Terminal 00802
Telephone 774-3320
Fax 714-9531
 

Government Fair to Explain Stimulus Funds

Virgin Islands residents can learn on November 27 how stimulus funds are being spent in the territory and how they might be able to take part in various programs.  The Departments of Education, Labor, and Health, the Water and Power Authority and the Energy Office will showcase some of the programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 at a fair on St. Croix – Your Stimulus Dollars at Work in the parking lot of the Sunny Isle Annex.

The Energy Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, is the lead agency for the fair. The Energy Office already has several programs up and running – an expanded rebate program, a new grant program, and the Solar Thermal Installers Training Program (a multi-agency partnership) – and two other of its programs are about to be implemented.  The Energy Office is also administrating a federal Weatherization program new to the territory this year. Residents will be able to determine eligibility, pick up and submit rebate applications at the fair. 

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on what is commonly called Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, in the previous location of the movie theatres.   Of special interest will be solar thermal water heaters on display.  Four prototype models were built by trainees in a solar water heater class funded by ARRA.  The trainees are currently in the fourth and final stage of the program.  During this phase they are installing 16 solar water heaters at various non-profit agencies around the territory.  The Energy Office will also have solar pedometers available. The pedometers emphasize the need to burn calories instead of carbohydrates.

Other government agencies spending stimulus funds have been asked to participate as have vendors of alternative energy and energy efficiency products. All the information about the rebate programs and grants programs as well as tips on energy efficiency will be available. The Energy Office will have the same materials available on St. Thomas during the Agriculture and Food Fair, December 5-6, at the University of Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus.

Office Offers Grant Application Workshops for V.I. Non-Profit
The Virgin Islands Energy Office is accepting Discretionary Grant Applications from Non-Profit Organizations to assist with energy efficiency projects to include energy education outreach, building retrofits, and solar outdoor lighting. The grant programs are designed to assist community groups, civic organizations, schools and institutions in successfully implementing energy efficiency/renewable energy projects.  Grant limits were increased to $50,000 under this program as funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and administered by the Energy Office, a division of the Office of the Governor.
        A one day free workshop will be conducted on November 19, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m,.at the University of the Virgin Islands Administration and Conference Center, Room 142-1B, on St. Thomas, with simultaneous video cast at UVI St. Croix Campus Great Hall, Room 134.   Industry experts will present valuable information on the Discretionary Grant Program, Energy Audits, Grant Application Procedures, Federal Reporting Requirements, and much more.
        Bevan R. Smith, Jr., Director, encourages all non-profit organizations and individuals who provide technical support and assistance to grant applicants in areas of proposal development, grant application packaging, product selection and monitoring requirements of successful grant recipients to attend. Workshop registrations are accepted via e-mail at tdiggs@vienergy.org. For more information contact Joseph Daniel at 774-3320, extension 6108.  Grant applications are available by clicking on the grant section in the menubar above.

Office Schedules Town Meetings on Energy Strategy

The Virgin Islands Energy Office is holding three Town Meetings to receive input from residents concerning the Virgin Islands Comprehensive Energy Strategy.  The plan was produced over the last few months by the Southern States Energy Board under the direction of the Energy Office and a policy advisor within the office of the Governor. Funding for the project was made available, in part, from the United States Department of the Interior.
       The strategy is designed to ensure the availability of affordable and reliable energy for the future and maintain a high standard of living for the citizenry.
Main objectives of the strategy are to:
Reduce energy costs
Increase efficiency of energy use and production
Increase fuel diversity and reliability
Promote clean energy
  The strategy outlines the current energy situation, notes energy resource options, and lists specific strategies to meet the main objectives. 
       The plan sets forth 31 strategies to support the above energy goals. The strategies cover broad areas such as energy efficiency, alternative energy and specific issues such as reducing the Water and Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system losses and adopting an updated Tropical Energy Code.
       The hearings will be as follows:
St. Croix is June 16, University of Virgin Islands Cafetorium
St. Thomas is June 17, University of Virgin Islands, 1st Floor Administration and Conference Center, formerly the Harvey Building
St. John is June 18 at the Senate Building
       Each hearing is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A copy of the plan can be reviewed by clicking here. All members of the public are invited and asked to submit questions in writing. Members of the Energy Office staff and members of the Southern States Energy Board will be available to answer questions.
       Anyone wishing for more information about the Town Meetings can call the Virgin Islands Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774.3320 on St. Thomas or St. John.

Public Hearing draws crowd

The Energy Office’s public hearing in Frederiksted, St. Croix, on May 5 was attended by over forty residents. The hearing focused on the $1.4 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program being awarded to the Virgin Islands.        However, discussion about how other funds coming to the Virgin Islands from the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 would be spent was heard.
       The evening began with a power point presentation by Director Bevan R. Smith Jr. The presentations outlined proposed uses of the funds and requirements. Click here to see a version of the presentation.
       Twelve residents made comments and gave suggestions during the hearing. Some of the suggestions were:

Bordeaux Fair Jan. 17 and 18, 2009
The Energy Office staff spent two full days talking energy issues at the 12th annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Agricultural and Cultural Food Fair on St. Thomas, Jan. 17-18, 2009.
      The fair, which continues to grow each year, is hosted by the Bordeaux farmers' collective, We Grow Food. Benita Martin-Samuel, one of the founders of the collective, said the fair had about the same attendance this year - 1,000 a day.
The fair is mostly about agriculture and the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture gives great assist to it. However, booths included everything from homemade brooms to calabash yoyos, bead jewelry, handmade clothing, clay pots, oils, and art.
The V.I. Energy Office had a photovoltaic system on display.
     Hundreds of residents received information about energy efficiency and alternative energy. Seventy-five rebate information packets were handed out. Some CFL bulbs were distributed. DVDs on the Energy Office Innovative Solar Grant programs were also given to residents who showed a marked interest in developing a PV system.
     Many more people are coming to the Energy Booth knowing that, though alternative energy does require an investment, the investment is worth it for any home owner. Residents are weighing the economic costs as well as the environmental costs of relying on oil.  The Energy Office staff might find its role shifting from convincing residents that energy consumption habits must be changed to simply encouraging them to do what they already know is right.  Working to Secure a Clean Energy Future
      The Energy Office marked Energy Awareness Month in October  by giving presentations to employees at different departments in the V.I. government concerning how to practice energy efficiency. Along with 16 presentations to government offices, Energy Office staff had nine public outreaches. In total the office was able to connect with about 1,000 residents.
    The public outreaches emphasized the theme Working to Secure a Clean Energy Future and included participation in Chamber of Commerce events on both St. Croix and St. Thomas. Other public outreaches were held at Sunny Isles; Cruz Bay; Cost U Less; and the Ackley Media Group Energy Fair at Tutu Mall.
Around100 copies of a new DVD available for residents interested in installing photovoltaic system were distributed. The film covers eight different sites on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix where residents have photovoltaic systems working for them.
         Government departments receiving presentations included Housing Finance Authority; GERS; Economic Development Authority; Office of Management and Budget;  Public Employees Relations Board; Department of Labor; Veteran’s Affairs; Elections Systems; Finance Department; Department of Tourism; Public Services Commission; and Government House, St. Croix.
     The presentations included energy efficient tips that the attendees could use at work and at home.

Impact Of Climate Change Presented at U.V.I.

         Dr. John Agard, a professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of the West Indies, speaking on St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands Thursday morning, emphasized that education is the key to solving the Global Warming crisis.
         His presentation Environment in Development: The Impact of Climate Change, highlighted areas such as rising sea levels and increased hurricane intensity that are of special interest to Caribbean Islands.
         The presentation, which was also video cast to the UVI St. Croix campus where several dozen students from St. Joseph High School watched, tied concerns with the environment to social and economic issues. He said, “A long term investment in education is needed.” He said educated people will understand how all these issues areconnected and how our well being is dependent on a clean environment. He pointed out some indisputable facts such as temperatures are rising on a scale that corresponds with the rise of carbon dioxide placed in the air. He explained the greenhouse effect that scientists say is causing the heating up of the earth. He admitted that the earth naturally has cooling off and warming up periods and explained those. However, he said that now, because of burning fossil fuel, we have knocked the earth off its natural balance.
        When asked what students could do, he answered, “We must all make a personal commitment. You will be making a choice about cars. You don’t have to aspire to owning something with a three or four liter engine. You can get a hybrid.” He added that he hoped that the SUV would become a category of vehicle that ceased to exist and that electric cars became common. He added, ”Though it might not seem like much when you practice energy conservation at home, turn off the lights, pull those adapters that aren’t connected to anything out of the socket,  it does add up to a lot when many people do it.”
         Don Buchanan, spokesman for the V.I. Energy Office, attended the presentation on St. Croix. He said afterward. “Dr. Agard’s message was right on the mark. It is the message that the Energy Office is trying to get out too.” Buchanan added, “His point about education and people learning about sustainability is so important. Many people don’t realize the true cost of burning fossil fuel. When you factor in all the health costs and environmental problems caused by burning fossil fuel; wind and solar produced energy looks very cheap."
         Dr. Agard, who served as a lead author in the United Nations initiated Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, expressed confidence that the environmental policy under President Elect Barack Obama would improve drastically. He called Obama’s proposals “fantastic” and added that they were even more ambitious in their goals than the goals of the Kyoto Accords which President Bush backed out of. Dr. Agard also explained how carbon credits under Obama would probably work.
         Dean of the Division of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Camille McKayle, said, “It is very rare that we can get a scientist to speak on a subject so pertinent to the area where we live.” She praised his ability to communicate the science on a personal level. She said the Chase Auditorium had about 50 people in it during the presentation and most of them were faculty, graduate students and community members.
         Dr. Agard served as a lead author of the 2007 UNEP Global Environmental Outlook. He is also lead author of the Small Islands Chapter of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published by Cambridge University Press in 2007. The IPCC and Al Gore shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
         At the regional level, Dr. Agard is a co-leader of the Caribbean Sea Assessment (CARSEA), published in 2007. He is a member of the Caribbean Sea Commission formed by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) to advance the cause of integrated management of the Caribbean Sea. He is also a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Task Force on Climate Change.

Global Warming Film Presented on St. Croix

  The film Dimming of the Sun sparked a lot of discussion about the effects of the Virgin Islands' addiction to fossil fuel on the environment when it was shown at the Pistarkle Theater at Tillet Gardens on St. Thomas on Oct. 10. However, the second showing scheduled for the University of Virgin Islands on St. Croix on Oct. 17, had to be postponed because of Hurricane Omar.
     The Energy Office, in partnership with the St. Croix Environmental Association and the UVI Marine Advisory Council, has rescheduled the showing for Nov. 7 in the Great Hall at UVI campus at 7 p.m. The movie is free and Energy Office staff will be available after the showing to answer questions about how energy issues affect our environment. To see a preview of this thought provoking film click here.

V.I. students turn sunshine into speed
     

      May 13, 2008 -- The 13th Junior Solar Sprint Competition went without a hitch on May 2 on St. Croix.
      Around 130 students attended the race held in the Wendy's parking lot at Sunny Isles shopping center. Students from 22 private, public and parochial schools in the territory participated.
      This year's big winner was again Sts. Peter and Paul on St. Thomas. One of the school's teams took first place in the speed category, while another took third place.
      Sandra Lashley, a teacher at the Manor School, said, "It was exciting to see the kids having fun while learning about solar energy. The camaraderie and cooperation among all of the students today was great."
      Bevan R. Smith, who originally brought the race to the Virgin Islands, is now the director of the V.I. Energy Office.  He said, "Over the years, with this race, students have gained knowledge, and are now miles ahead on solar energy. This is a thoughtful, fun activity to get kids involved."
The race winners:
     First (Sts. Peter and Paul): Jennifer Vante and Sarah Ann Charles
     Second (Arthur A. Richards): Clemrick Bryan and Kaheam Stanley
     Third (Sts. Peter and Paul): Aubrey Warner and Cadim Sabin
     Fourth (St. Patrick's): Brandon Lawrence and DeAndre Asson
     Fifth (Sts. Peter and Paul): Danlia Daniel and Ashlee Forney
      Design winners:
     First (Sts. Peter and Paul): Jennifer Vante and Sarah Ann Charles
     Second (Sts. Peter and Paul): Ashlee Forney and Danlia Daniel
     Third (Kingshill): Aaron Schaffer and Ian Heath
     Fourth (Sts. Peter and Paul): Aubrey Warner and Cadim Sabim
     Fifth (Kingshill): Martin Burgos and Clayton Bradford
      Second-place winner Clemrick Bryan said he had a feeling his team would place after they won four out of five races.
      "This is a fun way to learn about solar energy," Bryan said.
      Participating St. Croix schools included St. Patrick's, Arthur A. Richards Jr. High, Good Hope Church of God Academy, Country Day, Elena Christian Jr. High, Free Will Baptist, John H. Woodson Jr. High, The Manor School, St. Mary's, Positive Connections, IQRA Educational Center and the Kingshill School.
      Participating St. Thomas schools included Antilles, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High, Sts. Peter and Paul, All Saints, Addelita Cancryn Junior High, Montessori, Moravian and Church of God Academy.

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Wind Workshop Draws a Large Crowd

The Wind Workshop put on by the V.I. Energy Office at the end of January on St. Thomas made it perfectly clear how serious local residents are about utilizing alternative energy.
      Dwight Baily, one of the leaders of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Windpowering in America team, said, “This is something else. We have never seen anything like this.”
      Over 200 residents paid to attend. The Energy Office originally planned for 60 to 80 attendees. The workshop had to be moved to one of the larger rooms at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort. Bevan Smith, director the Energy Office, said historically, the Energy Office generally only gets thirty to forty attendees at such workshops. Governor John deJongh gave opening remarks and stayed to attend the first half of the full day workshop.
      The presentations, made by wind experts from the Department of Energy, are now available by clicking on presentations. When you arrive at the web location, right click on the file you wish to download.

Wind Workshop Set on St. Thomas

     The Energy Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is presenting an opportunity for residents to learn about wind power’s potential.  All residents are invited to the Wind Energy Workshop at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas on Jan. 31.
     The day-long workshop will include experts from the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Powering America, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratories and a Caribbean wind farm expert.
Governor John deJongh and Bevan Smith, director the Energy Office, will give opening remarks at 8:30 a.m.
     An overview of the workshop will be given by Dwight Bailey. Bailey is Project Manager of DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, PA. He provides financial assistance, program information, and technical assistance to state and local governments, and public and private organizations in the Eastern part of the United States for the U.S. DOE Wind Powering America Program.   Workshop topics will include:

     --Commercial Wind Technology 
     --Current Wind Technology Applications
     --Validated Wind Map for the U.S. Virgin Islands
     --Avian Issues in the Virgin Islands
     --Small Wind Opportunities in the Virgin Islands          
     --Caribbean Wind Projects

     In the last year, with the increase in electrical rates, many residents have invested in wind technology or are considering doing so. The VIEO has been urging residents to be cautious when making such investments. Director Smith has said that wind can be a valuable source of alternative energy, but only under the right conditions.
     Larry Flowers, of NREL, will talk about current wind technology. He has been with NREL for the past 27 years. Since 1990, he has been a team leader at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colo. His current assignment is the National Technical Director of Wind Powering America, a DOE program launched in 1999 to dramatically increase the deployment of wind in the United States.
     Dennis Elliott, a lead researcher in wind resource at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center, will speak about the wind map.   He has led the development and validation of new high-resolution wind resource maps for more than 30 U.S. states for the Wind Powering America initiative.  He has also led the development of wind resource maps for various countries of the world through projects supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, United Nations Environment Programme, and other clients.  In addition, he has conducted studies in other areas of wind characterization such as offshore assessment, wind shear and tall-tower analyses at elevated heights to 100-m+, and refined methods for assessing wind potential.  He has published many papers, often with other team members in the wind resource group, including articles in the Encyclopedia of Energy.
     Jose Zayas, the program manager of the Wind Energy Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will speak about commercial wind technology.  He has been at Sandia since 1996. His areas of expertise include active aerodynamic flow control, sensors, dynamic modeling, composite analysis, and data acquisition systems.
     Phil Dougherty, Acting Manager for the Department of Energy’s Wind and Hydropower Program, will speak about wind experiences in the Virgin Islands.  He also serves as national director of Wind Powering America. He leads a nationwide government team that works with national, state and local stakeholders across the energy, agricultural and environmental sectors.  He also leads an inter-agency task force to address wind-siting issues that could affect critical federal mission areas.
     Margo Guda, of the Antiyano Foundation of Energy, will speak about Caribbean Wind Projects. She is affiliated with the wind farm on Curacao.
     Onaje Jackson, of Sustainable Systems and Design International on St. Croix, will talk about avian issues in the Virgin Islands.
     Registration for the workshop is $25. A registration form can be found by clicking here.
     To get more information, residents should call 774-3320, extension 6133, or send an email to jdaniel@vienergy.org.

Saved by the Sun Presented at UVI
St. Croix Environmental Association is sponsoring, along with the V.I. Energy Office, a showing of the Nova film Saved by the Sea at the UVI St. Croix's theater in the student Center starting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 24.
    In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, there’s a new urgency and enthusiasm for finding ways to make solar power more efficient and affordable. From installing solar panels on homes to massive projects, the solar industry in gaining ground in the US. Germany is on track to produce 30 percent of its electricity from alternative energy by 2030.
    This film explores progress in the solar industry. The Virgin Islands with its abundance of sun should not be left behind. After the film a V.I. Energy Office representative will discuss alternative energy projects in the Virgin Islands.

Staff Talks Energy to Potential Homeowners at First Bank
    June 19, 2007 -- The V.I. Energy Office staff participated in the "Homeownership Expos" held on St. Thomas and St. Croix in June.
    The events were sponsored by First Bank and focused on providing information and assistance to those about to become homeowners in the Virgin Islands.
Joseph Daniel, Energy Operations Coordinator on St. Thomas, said that more than 50 people came to the Energy Office's table set up at First Bank's waterfront branch on June 9.  He said most of the question he and fellow staff members –Kasim Andrews, Idita Matthew Peters, and Kendall Sanderson – fielded were about energy efficiency. He added, "Certainly, there were a number of questions about alternative energy too – solar and wind."
    Don Buchanan, who, along with Leila Muller,  manned the Energy Office information table at the Orange Grove branch of First Bank on St. Croix on June 23, said the St. Croix numbers were similar to those experienced in Charlotte Amalie. He added, "Many people now know when purchasing a home that energy costs are an important consideration."
    This was the 11th annual expo sponsored by First Bank. The Energy Office has been a regular participant.
Besides the Energy Office, eleven other exhibitors were on hand at Orange Grove to answer questions from potential home buyers. Seminars were given on How to Qualify for a Mortgage  and credit evaluations were also conducted. To read a story from Source about the Expo on St. Croix, click here.

Energy Rebates Outlined at Island Fairs
    Island residents learned how they could get money back for energy efficient practices at Energy Rebate Fairs in May. The Energy Office held the fairs on St. Croix and on St. Thomas. If you did not have a chance to make the St. Croix fair you can view a film clip. Broadband click here. Dialup click here. For St. Thomas vendors, broadband click here. dialup click here.
     The St. Croix Fair on May 5 was in the Sunny Isle parking lot near Wendy's. The St. Thomas fair on May 12 was at Tutu Park Mall.
     The fairs ran from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will included displays of energy efficient appliances as well as alternative energy products. If you are thinking about getting into net metering -- sending power to WAPA instead of just buying if from the utility-- now is the time to see what is out there. The above films are good introductions to the vendors

Elskoe Family Lights the Way

To See a new Video of the event click Award Ceremony.

March 29, 2007 -- Two dozen people attended a ceremony March 23 which honored a St. Thomas family for its future contribution to energy efficiency and a St. Croix family for its past contributions.
In the Department of Natural Resources conference room on St. Thomas, the Elskoe family was presented the Vincent D. George Light the Way award. The award has been presented annually since 2001 to an individual, business or organization that shows innovative achievement in energy efficiency or the use of alternative energy.
Laurie Thomas-Jacobs, Administrative Assistant at the Energy Office, gave a brief biography of George.
George worked at the Energy Office from 1987 until his death in 2000 as the Energy Education Program Coordinator. He was instrumental in developing that program. He was also the person responsible for expanding Energy Education Day to the present Virgin Island Energy Education Week.
Thomas-Jacobs said, “Vincent loved his job. He enjoyed being with what he considered his main audience -- the children.”
His parents, Reginald and Virginia George, were present at the event and received praise and a gift fruit basket for their support of the Energy Office.
During the presentation, Bevan R. Smith, Jr., Director of the Energy Office, which is a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, said, “We regard the George’s as the First Family of Energy. They have been with us through all our trials and tribulations while Vince was with us and after he was gone.”
The Elskoe family, doing business as Wintdots Development, is building the Flagberry Hill development which includes six villas and 60 condominiums. The development is using an energy efficient design, solar power and wind when possible. The plan for the development was announced last year.
Aaron Martin, construction manager of Turner International, talked how the construction company would use sustainable development techniques. Turner was recognized by President William Clinton for its commitment to “Green” buildings.
Smith spoke highly of the planned development. He pointed out developers who include energy efficiency and alternative energy in original design phase, not only benefit the environment but they save a lot of money.
Members of the family attending the event included Glenn, president of Wintdots, Dorothy, vice president of Wintdots, and Sandyl Elskoe. Former Senator Almando "Rocky" Liburd, part of the extended family, spoke for the family. He said “times have changed” and he sees solar energy projects playing a bigger part in the Virgin Islands energy mix
Alicia Barnes, Assistant Commissioner, spoke as a representative of the DPNR. She said it was her first public appearance in her new position.
Smith also noted that this was the last function Thomas-Jacobs would be performing as an employee of the Energy Office. She had taken a new position as Executive Administrative Officer in the Office of the Commissioner Robert Mathes.
Julio Petersen III, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands, sang the National Anthem and the Virgin Islands March.
The award, started in 2001 by Victor Somme III, former energy office director, was presented in conjunction with this year’s Energy Education Week. Other events during the week were public screenings of Al Gore’s Oscar Award winning film – An Inconvenient Truth  --  and school presentations.

Hundreds at Global Warming Events
March 26, 2007 -- More than 300 Virgin Island residents took the opportunity to view the Oscar award winning documentary– An Inconvenient Truth -- during Virgin Islands Energy Education Week.

The V.I. Energy Office and the Water and Power Authority teamed up to present free screenings at Pistarkle Theater on St. Thomas, University of Virgin Islands on St. Thomas and Caribbean Community Theater on St. Croix.
To emphasize the screenings, Waste Management Authority helped kick off the week by sponsoring the showing of the actual slide show on which the movie was based. About 80 people attended the event at the new amphitheater in Sunny Isle Shopping Center.
And then with each event the numbers grew.
The final showing at Caribbean Community Theater drew over 150 people.
Unfortunately, a few people had to be turned away at the UVI showing in Chase Auditorium because it was a full house.
Bevan R. Smith Jr., director of the Energy Office, gave remarks preceding the screenings at Pistarkle and UVI. Don Buchanan, media specialist, gave opening comments at Caribbean Community Theater.
Literature concerning alternative energy and energy efficiency were passed out at each event.

Click here to see film of Energy Week kickoff event on St. Croix.(NEW)

Click here to see news article about kickoff.

Click here to see news article announcing events.

Click here to see video clip announcing events.

St. Croix Agricultural Fair Draws Residents
The V.I. Energy Office had thousands of Virgin Island residents visit its tent at the St. Croix Agriculture Fair Feb. 17, 18 and 19th.
There appeared to be two motivating factors that kept a stream of interested residents going through the tent -- the recent approval by the Virgin Island government concerning net metering and a splash of advertising by a local retailer concerning wind energy. Staff was questioned often about net metering. More than 70 copies of Currents, with an updated story about the status of net metering, were given to interested residents.
The highest interest at the fair was, as usual, the rebate program. Two hundred of the rebate packages prepared by Leila Muller, program monitor, were distributed. It seems a higher percentage of residents were interested in the alternative energy rebates than at previous outreaches where most residents seemed interested in energy-efficient appliance rebates.
The tent had a Global Warming exhibit. Forty copies of “Ten Things You Can Do to Curb Global Warming” were given out as were about 30 copies for youngsters of fact sheets defining climate change. About 120 fact sheets concerning solar energy were distributed.
Many residents were attracted to the site by the wind turbine set up outside the tent. It was explained to residents that wind is a good idea, but only if the wind at the proposed site has been measured and found sufficient. See Video (Dialup version - DSL version)