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Energy Takes Senator Stage at Economic Confab

June 26, 2009 — The topic Friday evening was economic development, but most of the talk at a "meet the senators" gathering at The Palms at Pelican Cove was about energy and why resolving the Virgin Islands’ energy problems are one key to long-term prosperity.

The St. Croix Chamber of Commerce hosted the get-together. A long table at the front of the room was reserved for the lawmakers, with a placard for each of the 15 senators. But the evening got off to a late start as senators were delayed in a hearing.

Only four were able to make it across the island to the gathering. But those four had plenty to say about one of the major challenges facing the Virgin Islands, the cost of energy.

Chamber Chairman Omer ErSelcuk opened with a synopsis of the current situation: fossil fuel costs that topped $140 a barrel last year before falling, and are on the rise again, creating the potential for increases in the cost of electricity, transportation and goods.

Given that, ErSelcuk asked, what can the Legislature do to wean the islands off fossil fuels and the roller coaster of unpredictable energy costs before the next big price spike?

The four senators in attendance — Louis Patrick Hill, Craig Barshinger, Neville James and Michael Thurland — were happy to tout recent actions by the body that they say have set the islands on the road to a more secure energy future.

"The first thing the Chamber of Commerce can do," Hill said, "is Monday call the governor’s office and ask him to sign the alternate energy bill we sent him. He needs to sign that bill."

According to Hill, the bill:

  • provides tax incentivies for importing and retailing alternative energy equipment so that local dealers can sell them at a price people can afford.
  • provides incentives and rebates for purchase and use alternative-energy nd energy-efficient products.
  • appropriates $10 million from federal stimulus funds earmarked for alternative energy that will provide installation of solar water heating equipment at no initial cost to the consumer.

Under the Senate bill, a homeowner wanting to make the conversion would find a supplier and installer, then contact the V.I. Water and Power Authority. After WAPA OK’d the deal, the water heater would be installed at no initial cost to the consumer. Instead, he would continue to pay about the same amount for electricity, with the approximate 30 percent energy savings from solar water heating offsetting the cost of the system. When the equipment is paid off, it belongs to the homeowner. The bill also provides for rebates to the consumer, so that he would end up not paying the full amount of the cost, Hill added.

"This is a significant and major initiative to reduce energy dependence," Hill said.

Barshinger added his agreement and requested everyone present contact the governor’s office to urge signing of the alternative energy bill.

"Everyone is going to be a winner, including you," he said. "Everyone in this room."

James pointed to WAPA’s work on a waste-to-energy plant being constructed on St. Croix, saying this project has the most immediate potential for a quick reduction in the island’s dependence on fossil fuels. James said it is natural for an economic discussion to focus on energy, since that is a major factor in the costs of producing and transporting goods.

"Any jurisdiction that wants to focus on economic development has to have a comprehensive energy policy," he said.

Hill also pointed to a hearing Wednesday at which representatives from Nevis talked about the potential of geothermal energy on their island. The resource is significant enough that the island is looking to create a grid supplying power to most of the Caribbean islands. Hill said WAPA is currently negotiating with Nevis.

Barshinger said the geothermal presentation was impressive and said it has potential. To the businesspeople in the audience he added, "But it’s as yet unproven, and you know how that can go."

James added that the most important thing the territory’s government, businesses and individual people can do is take steps to conserve energy. Simple steps like buying energy-efficient bulbs and using power wisely are steps everyone can take and will provide an immediate benefit in lower costs and less need for importing foreign oil to power WAPA’s generators.

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