D23AP00291

This grant for the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) within the Executive Office of the Government of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) is for the following projects:

VI-EIC-2023-1: To procure 15 battery electric vehicles as part of the Government Operations Fleet Electrification Energy-Efficient Transition (GO FLEET) initiative. The purchase of the electric vehicles provides a pathway to demonstrate the fossil fuel saving potential and expand alternative fuel vehicle technology deployment within the GVI while increasing the technology visibility in the community and in the territory. The Class 1 vehicles will be allocated to government agencies with standard administrative commuting duties. This will also benefit the greater public by reducing fuel emissions.

VI-EIC-2023-2: To procure and install 12kW solar canopies co-located with battery coupled DC fast chargers across the USVI as part of the GO FLEET initiative, to benefit the USVI government's EV fleet as well as residents of the territory. This will also benefit the greater public by reducing fuel emissions.

VI-EIC-2023-3: To re-capitalize the VIENERGIZE Energy Services Division within the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) and establish the unit as VIWAPA's energy transition champion. The overarching goal will be to ensure that the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is equipped with renewable energy subject matter experts who can leverage advancements in emerging technologies to bolster the financial and operational sustainability of the authority.

VI-EIC-2023-4: This project seeks to continue the pattern of resiliency by focusing on energy assurance at a critical communication hub for the Virgin Islands community. The Mountain Top site is a favorable site for renewable energy development, primarily solar. The proposed project seeks to incorporate a robust 110 kW ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array that will be coupled to a 300 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The PV plus BESS will be coupled to the existing on-site diesel generator creating multiple layers of energy resiliency. The PV and BESS has been sized to meet most of the loads of the VIPBS Mountain Top facility. The facility operates on a 24/7 basis and as a result possesses a very stable energy profile. The predictable load profile has simplified the PV plus BESS system design, as well as provided confidence that the proposed system will meet the demands of the facility. A secondary benefit of the proposed system is the energy cost savings that the VIPBS will be able to realize outside of energy emergencies. The 110 kW solar array will offset high energy costs of the facility. As the communication services that VIPBS provides continues to increase, the cost savings realized through the PV integration can be invested into furthering the impact of critical infrastructure.

The Mountain Top facility houses a wide range of standard operational infrastructure and complex communication infrastructure. As a result, in addition to the proposed PV plus BESS system, the project scope will include an uninterruptible power source (UPS) that is needed to support the most sensitive of electronics. Additional UPS capacity is needed to keep all critical systems functional through power disruptions.

VI-EIC-2023-5: To procure 2 battery electric marine vehicles for the Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources (DPNR) - Fish & Wildlife Division and to procure and install marine-based Level 2 & DC fast charging stations. This will both benefit and lower the barrier for other sectors of electric marine vessels, also benefiting the greater public by reducing fuel emissions.

Office Of The Governor

15.875 - Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories

Insular Affairs [DOI]

Virgin Islands United States

State-Wide

FY 2023 Energizing Insular Communities Program (OIAOIA-EIC2300317)