Bryan urged federal action on energy, healthcare and economic issues at IGIA session in Washington

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. spoke at the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Interagency Group on Insular Areas 2025 Mid-Year Plenary Session in Washington on Sept. 4, 2025, urging stronger federal-territorial coordination on energy, economic development and healthcare policy.

According to Government House, Bryan said the U.S. Virgin Islands’ location made the territory important to national security and argued that reliable, affordable energy was necessary for local stability and defense-related needs.

He pointed to the idle Port Hamilton refinery on St. Croix and said reopening and modernizing the facility could generate more than $400 million annually, provide $45 million in Virgin Islands government revenue and create more than 400 jobs. He also said the project could help stabilize the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, improve the power grid and reduce electricity costs.

Bryan also called for support for the Solar for All program in the territory. Government House said the program is expected to bring solar panels and battery storage to more than 4,300 households, adding 21 megawatts of solar capacity and 55 megawatts of storage.

On healthcare, Bryan urged changes to Medicaid caps and Medicare reimbursement schedules affecting the territory and said hospitals in the Virgin Islands were operating under cost schedules that had been frozen for more than 40 years. He also called for collaboration among the territories on health information technology and electronic medical records.

Government House said Bryan also thanked federal officials and Congress for the permanent extension of the rum cover-over and called for continued work on energy, infrastructure and healthcare issues.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-pushes-for-energy-security-economic-growth-and-healthcare-equity-at-federal-igia-session/