Energy Office Blast

AUGUST 27, 2012 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 14

For information on energy efficiency

or alternative energy, visit the

V.I. Energy website at www.vienergy.org

Use fans with your air conditioner. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating the cool air from your air conditioner. This allows you to raise the temperature and still be comfortable. Use oscillating fans for

greater circulation.

Town Hall Meeting Set to Discuss

St. John Smart Grid Initiative The Virgin Islands Energy Office is holding a town meeting on St. John on Aug. 30 to discuss a project to bring stability and reliability to the electric grid on St. John. All residents and business persons are invited to learn about the proposal and to make comments. Energy Director Karl Knight, as well as a representative of the Water and Power Authority and others involved in the proposal, will be on hand to answer questions. The project would give St. John a smart grid that can function effectively with a good percentage of alternative energy with some new storage capacity. Funding for the project would come from an economic development grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce. Partnering with the Energy Office and the WAPA is http://www.clean-coalition.org/. The meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. in St. Ursula’s Multipurpose Center in Cruz Bay.

Vendors Invited to Participate in Energy Office Rebate Program

The Energy Office invites vendors to register for the solar water heater rebate program that the Energy Office will be starting this fall. The registration will simply allow the Energy Office to determine that the vendor is a local business with a valid business license. It will also allow the vendor to get information about the new program.

The program will cover residential SRCC-rated, solar water heaters of 120 gallons or less.

For additional information, contact Leila Muller at the Energy Office at 713-8436, ext. 3606.

VI Energy Office

St. Croix

Tel. 713.8436 St. Thomas Tel. 714.8436

If you no longer wish to receive

this newsletter from the Virgin Islands Energy

Office, please reply to this

email with the word “unsubscribe” in

the subject line.

Energy Solutions Discussed in Puerto Rico

Energy Director Karl Knight, second from the right, attended the Southern States Energy Board session at the Southern Governors' Association conference in Puerto Rico in August. On his right is Gov. John P. deJongh Jr., and, on his left, is WAPA’s Executive Director Hugo Hodge.

The three-hour session of the Southern States Energy Board session in Puerto Rico provided a platform to highlight key priorities, including regional energy strategies, diversification and conservation initiatives. The board meeting was an opportunity for members from the public and private sectors to discuss state and territorial energy initiatives, as well as coal combustion product management, liquid natural gas applications, and other technologies and solutions.

Participants also discussed green energy technologies, domestic energy and exports, a dialogue headed by Ned Leonard, Vice President of Program Services, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

Dr. Gerald R. Hill, Senior Technical Advisor and member of the Southern States Energy Board also provided an update on the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership and Knowledge Sharing topic.

“The diversification of the Territory’s energy portfolio, including energy conservation, is key to my administration’s goal of reducing fossil fuel consumption 60% by 2025. Our

transition away from fossil-fuel based energy systems, towards a mix of alternative energy technologies, is a necessary and important next step in the Territory’s strategic energy and economic development priorities,” Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said.

The Southern States Energy Board focuses on various issues affecting energy and environmental quality in the southern region. The board also develops public policy positions for regional and national organizations.

Why Solar in the Virgin Islands?

A business man on St. Thomas explains why he decided to go solar at this time. A new solar business owner explains why he likes doing business in the Virgin Islands. See the discussions in this video.