💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved emergency repairs to St. Croix generating unit
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board approved emergency repairs on September 19, 2019, to a generating unit at the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix after the unit shut down unexpectedly on August 30 and damaged its compressor.
According to WAPA, the 20-megawatt dual-fueled Unit 17 was part of the island’s limited generating capacity, and the repairs were intended to help avoid rotating outages.
The board authorized a contract with RG Engineering to carry out the work. WAPA said the plan called for parts to be removed from decommissioned Unit 18 on St. Thomas and installed on Unit 17 on St. Croix.
WAPA said the repair work was expected to cost $836,319.85, and the board also approved a $200,000 contingency for unforeseen issues. The authority said RG Engineering could begin work as early as September 21, 2019.
WAPA said restoring Unit 17 would allow the plant to burn 100% propane and could reduce operating costs compared with an oil-fired generator.