HUD secretary visited WAPA on St. Croix to review federally funded utility projects

Official document: https://www.viwapa.vi/docs/default-source/2023-pr/press-release-(11.21.2024)-federal-and-local-partnerships-showcased-during-hud-secretary's-visit-to-wapa.pdf?sfvrsn=f37650fa_3

Archive page: https://www.viwapa.vi/news-information/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/11/21/federal-and-local-partnerships-showcased-during-hud-secretary-s-visit-to-wapa

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Adrianna Todman visited the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s St. Croix business office on November 21, 2024, for a review of Community Development Block Grant-funded utility projects, according to WAPA.

WAPA said the visit included updates on a battery energy storage system at the Richmond Power Plant, tank stabilization work and renewable energy development. The authority also said it had acquired the Vitol propane terminal through the CDBG-Mitigation program.

According to WAPA, the battery project was intended to improve voltage regulation and outage recovery, while the tank stabilization project was awaiting HUD approval for geotechnical studies and design work. The authority said CDBG funding also supported Richmond Power Plant upgrades and the Phase II Wärtsilä project on St. Thomas.

WAPA said it was continuing to work with HUD, the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority and other agencies on the use of disaster-recovery funds for the projects.