{"id":25492,"date":"2015-07-14T21:43:32","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T21:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=25492"},"modified":"2015-07-14T21:43:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-14T21:43:32","slug":"hodge-tells-u-s-senate-committee-on-energy-tangible-relief-is-finally-on-the-horizon-for-virgin-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=25492","title":{"rendered":"Hodge Tells U.S. Senate Committee On Energy ‘Tangible Relief Is Finally On The Horizon’ For Virgin Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the invitation of the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Executive Director Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. appeared before the committee Tuesday to offer testimony on remote and isolated energy systems, including energy and infrastructure challenges and opportunities, according to a press release WAPA issued today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hodge provided an overview of WAPA\u2019s challenges being significantly dependent on fuel oil in generating electricity and outlined numerous initiatives now underway to bring about relief to the utility\u2019s customers. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the territory has received some relief in recent months due to the recent decline in oil prices, which has reduced the current electric rate to 32 cent per kilowatt hour for residential customers, and 35 cents per kilowatt hour for commercial customers, analysts are divided on how long this respite from high fuel prices will last.\u00a0 One thing is certain however, prices will elevate again, and so the urgency remains the same,\u201d Hodge told the committee today.<\/span><\/p>\n

He noted that like most other islands in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands has no conventional energy resources to meet its energy needs. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>While <\/span>U.S. mainland utilities can connect to grids to purchase power from other utilities, island utilities are small, isolated and are not interconnected to a grid comprised of other utilities.\u00a0 This is primarily due to their separation by water and the depth of the ocean floor, which makes interconnection via underwater electric cables technologically and economically unfeasible.\u00a0 As a result, island utilities have historically purchased small simple-cycle generating units that are oil-fueled.\u201d\u00a0 Hodge further explained WAPA\u2019s operation of two separate generation systems, one in each island district.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hodge told the committee that since fuel prices began to skyrocket more than ten years ago, WAPA has pursued every option to reduce the cost of electric services to the people of the Virgin Islands. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have pursued alternative and renewable sources tirelessly for almost 10 years now, and tangible relief is finally on the horizon.\u201d\u00a0 WAPA could not, however, have made the advances that is has without a number of strategic public and private partnerships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hodge testified that WAPA\u2019s primary supporters have been the Executive and Legislative Branches of the V.I. Government, and on the federal level, the Department of Interior, the Department of Energy through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Agriculture\u2019s Rural Utilities Services. Together they have provided the following assistance:<\/span><\/p>\n