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D26AP00037

Project Grant

Overview

Grant Description
VITEMA & VINGN EMERGENCY BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (VITEMA) IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY ACROSS THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED EMERGENCY COORDINATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY DURING POWER OUTAGES AND NATURAL DISASTERS, VITEMA REQUIRES A RELIABLE AND RESILIENT ENERGY SOLUTION. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES THE INSTALLATION OF A 4-HOUR/2-MEGAWATT BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) AT VITEMA'S ST. THOMAS HEADQUARTERS. THE BESS WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL BACKUP POWER, ENHANCE OPERATIONAL RESILIENCY, AND BE INTEGRATED WITH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NEXT GENERATION NETWORK (VINGN) SUPERFAP TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS BROADBAND ACCESS DURING OUTAGES. THIS MISSION-CRITICAL UPGRADE WILL STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, AND REINFORCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY'S DISASTER RESPONSE CAPABILITIES.

THIS PROJECT INVOLVES THE INSTALLATION OF A 4-HOUR/2-MEGAWATT (8MWH) BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) AT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (VITEMA) HEADQUARTERS IN ST. THOMAS, USVI. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTION THAT ENSURES VITEMA'S CRITICAL EMERGENCY COORDINATION AND DISASTER RESPONSE OPERATIONS REMAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL DURING POWER FAILURES AND NATURAL DISASTERS. THE BESS WILL BE STRATEGICALLY INTEGRATED WITH VITEMA'S EXISTING POWER INFRASTRUCTURE TO OFFER A ROBUST BACKUP POWER SOURCE, ENHANCING THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, THE BESS WILL ALSO BE CONNECTED TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NEXT GENERATION NETWORK (VINGN) SUPERFAP LOCATED ON SITE. THIS CONNECTION WILL HELP ENSURE CONTINUOUS BROADBAND ACCESS DURING OUTAGES, SUPPORTING UNINTERRUPTED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND DATA SYSTEMS.

VITEMA AND VINGN WILL SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN UNINTERRUPTED COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY COORDINATION, AND COMMAND AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS DURING MAJOR INCIDENTS. THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO DELIVERS A LONG-TERM, RESILIENT ENERGY SOLUTION TAILORED TO THE AGENCY'S VITAL ROLE IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY ACROSS THE TERRITORY.

HYBRID VEHICLE PROJECT

THE ST. THOMAS/ST. CROIX (STT/STX) REVENUE ASSURANCE DEPARTMENT AGGRESSIVELY ADMINISTERS THE REVENUE PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ELECTRICITY AND WATER USE THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY TO INCLUDE ST. JOHN AND WATER ISLAND. THIS INTRICATE NETWORK IS JOINED WITH THE INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS MANDATED TO ENHANCE AND PROTECT ORGANIZATIONAL VALUE BY PROVIDING RISK-BASED AND OBJECTIVE ASSURANCE, ADVICE, AND INSIGHT. THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE FOR REVENUE ASSURANCE ACTIVITIES THEREFORE IS TO HELP MANAGEMENT WITH THE ASSESSMENT AND CONTAINMENT OF THE RISK OF REVENUE LOSS DUE TO OPERATIONAL INCONSISTENCIES AND ANOMALIES, ERRORS, FRAUD, AND OTHER SOURCES. ELECTRICITY THEFT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FOR THE ELECTRIC UTILITY DUE TO REVENUE LOSS CAUSED BY ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS THAT ARE NOT PAYING FOR IT. THE STEALER TENDS TO CONSUME MORE ENERGY, RESULTING ALSO IN POWER QUALITY PROBLEMS. AN INCREASE IN POWER DEMAND TO VALUES GREATER THAN THE TRANSFORMER RATED POWER CAN RESULT IN DIFFERENT QUALITY DEVIATIONS, LIKE TRANSFORMER OVERLOAD, VOLTAGE UNBALANCE AND STEADY STATE VOLTAGE DROP ON SYSTEM BUSES.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WATER & POWER AUTHORITY IS REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE ENERGIZING INSULAR COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (EIC) TO PURCHASE (4) VEHICLES FOR THE ISLAND OF ST THOMAS AND ST. CROIX.
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Virgin Islands United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority was awarded Emergency Battery Storage System for VITEMA & VINGN Project Grant D26AP00037 worth $3,385,000 from Insular Affairs in November 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Virgin Islands United States. The grant has a duration of 4 years 10 months and was awarded through assistance program 15.875 Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories. The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity New FY 2025 Energizing Insular Communities Program.

Status
(Ongoing)

Last Modified 11/17/25

Period of Performance
11/1/25
Start Date
9/30/30
End Date
1.0% Complete

Funding Split
$3.4M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.4M
Total Obligated
100.0% Federal Funding
0.0% Non-Federal Funding

Activity Timeline

Interactive chart of timeline of amendments to D26AP00037

Additional Detail

Award ID FAIN
D26AP00037
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Other
Awarding Office
1431M8 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIV (00001)
Funding Office
1431M8 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIV (00001)
Awardee UEI
FE98E9WFLGU9
Awardee CAGE
1XVR3
Performance District
VI-98
Modified: 11/17/25