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WAPA Chief Endorses Solar-Powered Streetlights During Senate Hearing

April 3, 2007 — In what may be his last, or nearly last, appearance before the Legislature, WAPA Executive Director Alberto Bruno-Vega testified in favor of solar-powered streetlights during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Tuesday in Frederiksted.
Agreeing with the WAPA chief, the committee endorsed spending $250,000 in general funds for the Water and Power Authority and the Energy Office to jointly build 45 to 50 solar-powered streetlights in St. Croix areas currently lacking streetlights.
“Solar streetlights are not a new concept, the technology is tested and dependable,” said Bruno-Vega, who is set to step down June 1, 2007. “While the initial cost is quite expensive, the only maintenance after that is the battery," he said, before launching into a detailed critique of the technology.
“To give enough light for highway illumination we would have to reduce the span between the poles, requiring twice as many as currently,” Bruno-Vega said, recommending they not be used on highways.
“They are fine for security lighting around buildings. Indeed WAPA could use these at our facilities,” said Bruno-Vega.
Asked if WAPA would lose revenue if the lights were installed, Bruno-Vega said yes, in the short run.
“Definitely there is going to be an immediate shortfall in revenues, but that is a challenge WAPA has to take. It is positive for everyone to take these steps for the future,” he said.
Onaje Jackson, president of Sustainable Systems and Design International, a company specializing in solar and wind systems. Jackson testified to the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the technology.
“When St. Croix suffered significant damage from Hurricane Marilyn in 1995, Solar Outdoor Lights (a brand of solar lighting) lit up as usual when WAPA-powered lights stayed dark for a number of days,” said Jackson.
“Solar Outdoor Lights have no charge for running wires or trenching, no charge for putting in transformers and meters and no electric bill,” said Jackson.
Energy Office Director Bevan Smith Jr. recommended funding be set aside for upkeep, noting maintenance would need use of a bucket truck to service the lights.
The committee voted the bill on to Rules and Judiciary after voting down an amendment by Sen. Carlton Dowe to include St. Thomas and St. John in the project. There will be several more opportunities for amendment before the final vote is taken.
In other news, the committee approved a bill changing the Infrastructure Maintenance Act to increase the portion of real property taxes dedicated to WAPA’s streetlight and drinking water funds from 2 percent each to 4 percent each. WAPA uses these funds to pay government streetlight and water bills, deducting what they receive from the government’s outstanding bills.
The funds would be distributed quarterly, rather than once a year as currently.
Legislative Post Auditor Claudette Watson-Anderson said property tax revenues for 2007 were projected to be $72.6 million, so the bill, if passed, would generate $4.8 million that year for water and streetlights combined. Bruno-Vega said that amount is much closer to actual funding requirements.
Debra Gottlieb, Office of Management and Budget acting director, cautioned the senators that the increase would mean less funding somewhere else, since no new revenues were being created by the change, merely being shifted about.
Both bills now go for consideration by the Committee on Rules and Judiciary and, if approved, then to the full Senate.
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