Advancement in USVI Wind Farm Projects with Newly Executed Lease

The Department of Property and Procurement has received the executed lease agreement vital for advancing the wind farm projects on St. Thomas and St. Croix, as reported by Joel Hart of Advance Power during the recent V.I. Public Services Commission monthly meeting.

Hart stated, “We have formally executed and acknowledged the site lease, and it has been overnighted to Property and Procurement.” He explained that this marks the beginning of what could be a lengthy bureaucratic process, requiring approvals from the Attorney General’s office, the Senate, and the Governor.

Hart emphasized that although the formal permitting and approval process cannot commence without finalizing the leasehold and site leads, Advance Power is proactively conducting preparatory work in anticipation of these approvals.

During the meeting, Hart revealed a significant change in the lease structure. Instead of subleasing from WAPA, Advance Power will now directly hold the primary lease with Property & Procurement.

The Public Services Commission (PSC) inquired about the total land area to be leased on both islands. Hart responded that it is premature to specify an exact figure, as the agreement is designed to maximize generation capacity. “We are planning for approximately two and a half acres for each pad site, with additional easements for interconnection and collection systems,” Hart added, noting that the exact acreage will be determined by an as-built survey post-construction.

Upon further pressing from the commissioners, Hart estimated the installation of 10 windmills at Bovoni Point on St. Thomas and 20 near the St. Croix refinery, although he cautioned that these numbers could adjust based on final engineering assessments. “We aim to install the minimal number of turbines necessary to meet our power production targets,” he clarified.

Hart also mentioned ongoing internal discussions about the turbine size, fluctuating between 1.5 MW and 2 MW, which will affect the total number of turbines installed.