The V.I. Energy Fair was held on Oct. 28 to raise awareness about renewable energy and identify options for individuals to become more energy-independent. A follow-up with event attendees showed the event was successful, and its impacts have been positively beneficial and far-reaching.
The Energy Fair, organized by the Caribbean Green Technology Center of the University of the Virgin Islands, took place at the Elridge Blake Sports and Fitness Center on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. CGTC intends to help achieve meaningful progress in green energy and sustainability.
“The mission of the CGTC of the UVI is to develop, promote, and help implement the use of innovative green technologies to improve the social development of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the well-being of all the Territory’s communities,” according to CGTC’s website. “The CGTC will achieve its goals by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, understanding and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and creating products, processes, and methods relevant to Caribbean islands.”
As for the V.I. Energy Fair, the objectives were to provide participants and attendees with knowledge on how renewable energy works and how to increase the energy independence of their households or businesses, while also creating the space for the general public to meet with private systems vendors and understand technical and financial options to become energy independent, according to organizers.
Jeannine Francis-Brown, program manager with CGTC at UVI, provided additional information to the Source about the group’s mission and objectives.
“The goal of the V.I. Energy Fair was to connect the V.I. community to energy options, [including] products and companies which would enable an individual’s resilience within their households during power outages or other disruptions to our day-to-day lives,” Francis-Brown said. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority was among the companies in attendance hoping to connect with its customers.
“We brought together innovative products/services, local and regional small businesses, and various programs that would make alternative energy affordable, along with a wide range of ages and socio-economic groups in one place to freely ask questions, interact with [each other], and explore [sustainable energy] options,” Francis-Brown added.
Attendees Reflect on an Effective Energy Fair
Francis-Brown and attendees are proud of the outcome of the fair and shared their thoughts about why this event was a success.
“The most impactful results of the V.I. Energy Fair were the networking opportunities,” Francis-Brown stated. “We had a unique blend of government, private industry, and non-profit vendors who share a love for our community and [strive] for accelerating resilience within the Virgin Islands,” she noted.
Four additional attendees spoke to the Source, all currently working or studying at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The scholars presented their research at the fair and reflected on a common theme of having had an educational experience in which meaningful connections were made.
Jonisha Aubain, a native Virgin Islander and Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at UMASS Amherst, attended the fair and was inspired by the connections among the public energy companies and organizations. Aubain hopes that her research and work will help the future of renewable energy within the territory and greater Caribbean, resulting in reduced electricity costs and more energy independence.
“My favorite aspect of the energy fair was being able to share my research and hear the connections and questions from those in attendance. Every person came with their own understanding and allowed me to see different perspectives that can come into my research,” Aubain added.
Pedro I. Matos Llavona, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences at UMASS Amherst, also found the event educational and inspiring. Matos Llavona, originally hailing from Puerto Rico, hopes that part of his work will aid in an eventual shift from fossil fuel electricity to more sustainable forms across the local islands, including solar power.
“Solar power potential is great for P.R. and USVI, and it will likely become the main source of electricity generation in a carbon-free future,” Matos Llavona predicted.
“As scholars, participating in the V.I. Energy Fair was an exceptional opportunity to connect with real-world experiences from people and the energy sector [in the] Virgin Islands and shape our research to include those overlooked needs in the future energy systems of the islands,” he added.
Local USVI Engagement
Energy fair attendees shared appreciation and insight gained by engaging with the local community. Several participants had the opportunity to meet Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.
Attendee Zoe Getman-Pickering is a program manager at UMASS Amherst for ELEVATE, a program at the school that trains graduate students to solve the social, political, and technical challenges of energy transition. She noted that connections with the local community were valuable.
“[The V.I. Energy Fair] was an incredible opportunity, both to hear from practitioners and organizations at the forefront of the fight against climate change and to hear from local folks about their experience with energy,” Getman-Pickering stated. “We were able to get a much better understanding of the needs of the community compared to what one can learn from reading academic texts.”
Fair attendee Paola P. Furlanetto, a Ph.D. candidate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at UMASS Amherst, echoed this sentiment.
“In short, the fair recharged my optimism and commitment to energy solutions — solutions that are built for the people with their input. The event was successful, and now more of us are connected to supporting the energy transition on the islands and beyond,” Furlanetto explained.
Getting Involved
Keep up with the work and research being conducted at CGTC’s official website, Caribbean Green Technology Center of UVI, and UVI students are encouraged to become involved.
“We can be reached via our website, www.cgtc-usvi.org, which houses everything from who we are and what we do to what reports we have already generated. You can learn how to interact with us as a research organization at UVI to gather data, develop reports, or partner in proposals,” according to CGTC Program Manager Francis-Brown. “Students can choose to work — for either extra credit or pay — on some of our research projects by going to UVI’s student affairs or career services and asking what is currently available at the CGTC.”
