Bryan convened second economic development strategy meeting in St. Thomas

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. held the second meeting of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy group in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, Government House said on August 12, 2019.

The meeting included about 30 business owners, nonprofit representatives, tourism industry representatives, government officials and other stakeholders. The group heard presentations on airport upgrade plans and on the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority's five-year plan focused on resiliency, efficiency and renewable energy.

The administration said Bryan first convened the group on March 6, 2019, under the Bureau of Economic Research as part of rebuilding and economic resiliency efforts. The meeting was chaired by Donnie E. Dorsett, a senior policy analyst at the bureau.

Virgin Islands Port Authority Deputy Director Damian Cartwright said Phase 1 of a six-phase, $250 million expansion at Cyril E. King Airport was scheduled to begin in February 2020. Government House said the project included a 700-space parking and transportation center, terminal modernization, jet bridges, additional lounge and concession space, and a dock for travelers going to the British Virgin Islands and other destinations.

At Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix, Cartwright said a four-phase, $140 million expansion was planned, initially funded by a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The work was described as including improvements to the pre-clearance facility, enclosed walkway and garden space, mechanical upgrades, a second level for jet bridges, baggage-handling changes and traffic-flow redesign.

WAPA Executive Director Lawrence Kupfer said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved $625 million in mitigation projects, with FEMA covering 90% and the local match to be paid through Housing and Urban Development funds. Government House said the projects included underground wiring for 50% of WAPA customers, composite poles, substation upgrades, undersea cables, hardening of the automatic metering system and two 4-megawatt emergency generators for St. John.

Kupfer also said WAPA planned to add smaller generators, pursue a waste-to-energy program, explore interconnection with the British Virgin Islands power grid and provide power to cruise ships during port calls. Government House said the utility aimed to raise renewable energy penetration from about 1.4% to at least 30% by adding battery storage, solar farms on St. John and Water Island, and nearly 60 megawatts of additional solar capacity.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-convenes-second-meeting-of-comprehensive-economic-development-strategy%e2%80%a8/