Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands continue to advocate for reliable energy solutions and technical assistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands amid a power outage rotation schedule, power generation capacity and distribution challenges, and outdated equipment, a press release announced.
Earlier this month, Plaskett hosted United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and professional staff from the U.S. Department of Energy and White House staff in the Virgin Islands. During this visit, Granholm, Plaskett, and staff conducted a site tour of the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St Thomas. This was followed by roundtable discussions with local government officials and private stakeholders on how to create a more resilient and reliable energy grid that can provide affordable, reliable power to the people of the Virgin Islands. During her visit, Granholm called the power reliability issues “unacceptable” and relayed the willingness of the U.S. Department of Energy to provide technical assistance, the press release stated.
Following the roundtable, Plaskett hosted a summit on St Croix entitled, ‘A Reimagined Virgin Islands’ to convene local and federal partners along with the private sector for a discussion of impactful insights and best practices for infrastructure rebuilding and energy issues of the Virgin Islands. Attendees were engaged and came up with next steps and plans to convene again to mark progress, the release stated.
“Seven years ago, our community’s infrastructure was devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria, leaving our critical infrastructure decimated,” Plaskett stated.
“Out of devastation came the opportunity to transform our territory and rebuild our critical infrastructure in a more resilient manner with profound funding from the federal government,” said Plaskett.
Throughout the roundtables with Granholm and the subsequent ‘A Reimagined Virgin Islands’ summit, there was clear agreement between federal agencies, local agencies, and the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands that the modernization of the electrical grid and water system would yield the production of reliable, affordable, sustainable energy, the release stated.
Following the events hosted by Plaskett, Sens. Milton Potter, Donna Frett-Gregory, and Samuel Carrion worked collaboratively to advance Bill 35-0311 to mandate the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to submit a proposed modernization plan to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands within 270 days. The plan must outline steps and a timeline for implementing upgrades to the electrical grid after receiving technical assistance from several relevant federal agencies. The bill passed unanimously (14-0 with one member absent) and will go to Governor Bryan for consideration, it said.
