Bryan announces tourism summit, WAPA funding and St. Croix wastewater award

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said during a weekly press briefing on July 22, 2024, that the Office of the Governor and the Department of Tourism would sponsor the first U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Summit on July 25 at The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas.

According to Government House, the summit was set to include breakout sessions on social media, tourism economics and projections for the territory’s tourism industry. Bryan and Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte were scheduled to speak. Government House said the event would be available virtually and on Government Access Network Channel 27.

Bryan also said the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority had completed a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant application tied to a $100 million award. Government House said the funding allowed WAPA to acquire propane terminals at the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix and the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas.

Bryan said Wartsila engineers had resumed work on generators and that WAPA expected to have 9 megawatts of battery storage available on St. Thomas between mid-August and late August 2024. He also said the Virgin Islands Energy Office was expected to receive $62 million in federal funding in September 2024 for renewable-energy projects.

In addition, Bryan said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had committed $989 million for wastewater infrastructure on St. Croix. Government House said the funding would be used to replace most of the island’s sewer lines and rebuild 14 pump stations affected by Hurricane Maria.

At the start of the briefing, Bryan acknowledged President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-announces-first-tourism-summit-sustainable-energy-and-wastewater-infrastructure-gains/