Making the transition to a clean energy future by reducing the territory’s fossil fuel consumption will be the focus of a two-day workshop set to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Great Hall on UVI’s St. Croix campus.
The workshop, which is in its fifth year, is sponsored by Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN) — an international partnership focused on helping islands across the world that traditionally rely heavily on petroleum reduce energy consumption.
In 2009, the United States made the U.S. Virgin Islands its EDIN pilot project, which gave technical and financial assistance to help form and carry out practical strategies to meet the goal of a 60 percent reduction in fossil fuel use by 2025, which was set in Feb. 2010 by Gov. John deJongh Jr.
There will be an opportunity for business leaders, project directors, partners, and working groups to consult stakeholders and community members on projects aimed at promoting energy efficiency in the territory. The workshop has been divided into five areas: education and workforce development, policy and analysis, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation.
Experts from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Interior, and the V.I. Water and Power Authority have developed an “Energy roadmap” and are seeking community involvement. The experts will report on feasibility studies and analyses that have contributed to the roadmap and the public will be given an opportunity to ask questions and provide commentary on the proposed projects.
The EDIN partners will also meet with members of the V.I. Energy Action Team, Quality Electric Supply, Asencios Construction, Luis G. Huertas, Horizon Energy Systems, VI Silva Energy; and AARP will be available in breakout sessions focused on reducing energy consumption.
Thursday’s schedule is as follows:
–9.a.m. – Welcome and introduction
— 9:10 a.m. – Gov. John de Jongh Jr. will speak on VI 2025 goals
— 9:20 a.m. – VIEO Director Karl Knight and V.I. Water and Power Authority Executive Director Hugo Hodge will present
–9:40 a.m. – Renewable Energy discussion
–10:10 a.m. – Energy efficiency
— 11 a.m. – Transportation
–11:30 a.m. – Outreach and education
Noon – Lunch
— 1 p.m. – The Road Ahead and the Greensburg GreenTown Model
–1:30-4 p.m – Working group meetings and integrated discussions
There is no registration fee for this workshop; however, advance registration is required to ensure adequate seating and food service. Please RSVP to laurie.thomas-jacobs@eo.vi.gov or contact her at 340-713-8436.
