💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved St. Croix generator repairs and St. Thomas LPG conversion
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board, meeting in an emergency session on July 24, 2020, approved repairs to a generating unit on St. Croix and the conversion of a leased generator on St. Thomas to run on propane.
The board approved increasing an existing contract with Ethos Energy Group to $1.1 million for repairs to St. Croix Unit 20, along with a $70,000 contingency for additional work if needed. It also approved the purchase of equipment for the repairs at a cost of up to $480,308.
The board also approved a contract addendum with General Electric to upgrade St. Thomas Unit 27 to operate on propane using existing LPG infrastructure at the Randolph Harley Power Plant. WAPA said the conversion would raise the unit's monthly lease cost but lower fuel costs, resulting in overall operating savings.
According to the release, board members present were Chairman Anthony D. Thomas, Vice Chair Noel Loftus, Secretary Juanita Young, Cheryl Boynes Jackson and Kyle Fleming. Joel Lee, Hubert Turnbull, Elizabeth Armstrong and Jed JohnHope were excused.