💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved wind and solar power agreements and project extensions on March 30, 2023
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board approved wind and solar power purchase agreements for St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John during a meeting on March 30, 2023, and also approved several project extensions, amendments and insurance items.
The board authorized a contract with St. Croix Wind LLC for a St. Croix power purchase agreement of up to 35 megawatts at no more than 12 cents per kilowatt hour for a 25-year fixed-price term, with an option for a five-year extension on the same terms. It also approved a contract with Bovoni Wind LLC for a St. Thomas agreement of up to 20 megawatts at no more than 12 cents per kilowatt hour for a 25-year fixed-price term, also with an optional five-year extension.
The board also approved the chief executive officer to contract for solar projects on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John under 25-year fixed-price terms with optional five-year extensions. The St. Croix solar contract was capped at 22 megawatts, the St. John contract at 20 megawatts and the St. Thomas contract at 24 megawatts.
Among other actions, the board approved a cost increase and a time extension through Dec. 31, 2023, for the Randolph Harley New Generation and Battery Energy Storage System project on St. Croix. WAPA said the extension was intended to support the transition of ownership of the new generators and work at the build site.
The board approved West Peak Energy Exhibit C Amendment No. 1, which WAPA said was tied to personnel changes, and said the extension would not affect installation or commercial operation of the new Wartsila generators. It also approved a no-cost time extension for the Comprehensive Security project on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The board approved excess general liability insurance coverage for April 2023 through April 2024 under a three-year contract that WAPA said would provide an additional $15 million in coverage.
The board also approved amendments to contracts with Haugland Virgin Islands for St. Thomas and St. Croix to allow installation of additional composite poles, approved Trident Addendum No. 1 to supply 800 additional composite poles, and approved an amendment to a contract with American Wire Group to modify payment terms for the composite pole project.
WAPA said the composite pole project was 85% complete on St. Thomas and St. John, 75% complete on St. Croix and 100% complete on Water Island.
During the executive director’s report, Chief Executive Officer Andy Smith said the Bryan administration was seeking funds to support a Vitol buyout while a federal funding process was underway, and said WAPA was scheduled to testify on April 5, 2023, at a Committee of the Whole hearing.