A major step toward energy resilience and sustainable workforce development was celebrated Monday at the University of the Virgin Islands, RTPark, and the Caribbean Green Technology Center formally launched the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative — Sustainable Practices Advancement and Renewable Knowledge.
Funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative, short for Strategic Projects for Advanced Resilience and Knowledge, aims to reduce UVI’s dependence on fossil fuels while expanding educational opportunities in renewable energy. At the heart of the initiative is the construction of a 423-kilowatt ground-mounted solar farm that will offset the RTPark’s reliance on the grid and serve as a hands-on training site for students.
“This here is going to be something special,” said Hugo Hodge Jr., president of Volt Energy, the local contractor overseeing the project’s construction. The new solar array will not only support campus operations but also feature a dedicated teaching component for UVI’s newly launched Associate of Science in Renewable Energy Technology.
UVI President Safiya George emphasized the broader educational benefits. “Here, students will learn about energy management, conduct real-time energy audits, and gain valuable experience,” George said. “This initiative is not just for UVI students — it will also serve high school and middle school students across the territory.”
Project Manager and Master of Ceremonies Amina Saleem opened the launch event by acknowledging the many departments and individuals who contributed to the project’s success.
Eric Sonnier, representing UVI RTPark, highlighted the organization’s role in economic development. “We are an economic development organization, just like the local EDA,” he said. “We focus on diversifying the economy by attracting knowledge-based and technology companies to the territory.”
The Caribbean Green Technology Center also played a key role. Its director, Greg Guannel, was instrumental in the project’s development and implementation.
Also in attendance were Adrienne Williams-Octalien, director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery, and Karl Knight, CEO of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.
“You have the top hitters on this project,” Williams-Octalien said. “You have the people that know. You have all the homegrown talent.”
Knight praised the project’s long-term vision. “While it might seem like the progress is not happening — maybe the progress is steady, but firm,” he said. “We are making progress. Projects like this make us very excited because they help us build resilience.”
Ian Tomlinson, chairman of the UVI RTPark Board, added, “We are building opportunities for Virgin Islanders by ensuring that the next generation has the tools, training, and pathways they need to lead in the industries of tomorrow. This is the kind of impact the RTPark was designed for.”
Following the ceremony, a ribbon-cutting marked the official launch of the project, followed by a reception. Also among those in attendance were Sen. Marise James and Virgin Islands Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming.
The solar farm is expected to be fully completed by August.
