💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
HUD funds to be used for up to seven new generators at St. Thomas power plant
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and the Office of the Governor said on November 19, 2018, that HUD Community Development Block Grant funding would be used to acquire up to seven new generators for the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas.
WAPA said requests for proposals for the generators would be issued before the end of 2018 and that the units were expected to be commissioned within a year.
According to the announcement, the new generators were expected to reduce fuel consumption by at least 30% compared with older units serving the St. Thomas-St. John district. WAPA said the units would also reduce fuel, leasing and maintenance costs and improve reliability.
The authority said the acquisition represented an investment of about $65 million in power-generation upgrades on St. Thomas.
The announcement also referenced a planned solar micro-grid project on St. Croix and a planned wind energy project on St. Thomas.