The Virgin Islands Energy Office has awarded more than $1.3 million in subgrants this summer to support solar energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy workforce development across the territory.
According to a press release issued Thursday, the funding package — described as a “Summer of Subgranting Awards Trifecta”— includes three major subgrant agreements that combine local and federal funds to bolster the territory’s energy transition efforts.
One award supports the Solar Congregations Pilot program, which Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. approved in December 2024. The initiative seeks to ease the financial burden on faith-based institutions caused by high utility costs. The $220,000 subgrant will install 35 kW rooftop solar arrays at St. Joseph and St. Ann Catholic Churches, projected to reduce monthly utility bills by about $2,000. Each site will also receive a Level II electric vehicle charging station powered by the solar arrays, the press release stated.
The solar systems will be integrated into the updated Net Energy Billing program managed by the V.I. Water and Power Authority. To address delays in the program caused by staffing shortages, VIEO awarded a $540,000 Department of Interior-funded subgrant to WAPA to reestablish its dormant VIEnergize division. Originally launched in 2012 and shuttered in 2017, the division is being revived to serve as WAPA’s internal champion for distributed energy resources, the release stated.
VIEnergize is now under the direction of Brian Walden, who brings nearly 20 years of renewable energy project management experience. Walden will lead the effort to clear a backlog of solar interconnection applications and expand the division with additional engineers and support staff, the release stated.
“The advent of the VIEO’s Solar For All Ah We program and Community Electrical Innovation Program will rapidly increase the number of solar and battery systems connected to the grid,” the release stated. The division will also help WAPA develop strategies to manage and operate a Virtual Power Plant, coordinating distributed energy assets such as rooftop solar and battery storage to meet grid demands in real-time, according to the release.
The third subgrant, valued at $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy, was awarded to Metro Motors VI. The funds will reimburse the company for purchasing electric vehicle service tools, installing Level III DC fast chargers on St. Croix and St. Thomas, and training local technicians. Metro Motors has committed to stocking EV models such as the Ford F-150 Lightning in both districts and will provide servicing for affiliated government and private-sector vehicles, the release stated.
“These subgrant awards mark a critical first phase in VIEO’s broader strategy to empower community partners and expand access to clean energy,” said Director Kyle Fleming during a recent fiscal year 2026 budget hearing. “By putting in place the talent, resources, and technology needed to efficiently power the territory, VIEO is cutting down on polluting emissions and increasing the reliability of the power grid.”
For more information, contact Lasiba Knight, public information officer, at lasiba.knight@vi.gov or 340-774-0750 ext. 3621.
