Government House briefing recapped solar project, disaster drill and housing work

Government House Communications Director Richard Motta said in a weekly briefing on June 16, 2025, that the territory had commissioned a 22-megawatt solar farm at Estate Hogensborg on St. Croix, adding renewable energy capacity to the grid.

Motta said the project complemented the 10-megawatt Petronella solar farm on St. Croix and a 43-megawatt solar project under construction at Estate Fortuna on St. Thomas.

He also said Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams Octalien visited newly completed homes under the Envision Tomorrow program on St. Croix. According to the briefing, more than 55 homes had been rebuilt or renovated to current code standards and 100 more were under construction.

VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said a two-week hurricane response exercise, USVI Capstone 2025, had concluded. The drill simulated a Category 3 storm and involved FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Virgin Islands National Guard, Emergency Management Assistance Compact partners from New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico, and private-sector participants.

Government House also said Bryan was traveling to Washington for a June 18 meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach was serving as acting governor during Bryan's absence.

In the briefing, Government House said Bryan had ordered Virgin Islands flags on government buildings to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on June 20 in honor of Eldred "Edgie" Christian.

The briefing also said the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority planned a housing expo on St. Thomas on June 22, following an event held on St. Croix on June 15.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/government-house-weekly-briefing-highlights-progress-in-renewable-energy-disaster-preparedness-and-housing/