Acting Governor Tregenza A. Roach has signed into law a measure providing critical funding to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for work aimed at improving electric grid stability in the St. Thomas-St. John District, including the repair or replacement of the damaged submarine electrical transmission cable serving St. John and critical assessments and repairs to Unit 15 at the Randolph Harley Power Plant.
Lt. Gov. Roach also signed a second measure continuing funding for tuition-free higher education at the University of the Virgin Islands, advancing two priorities of the Bryan-Roach Administration that support both the territory’s immediate infrastructure needs and its long-term investment in Virgin Islands students and families.
Roach approved Bill No. 36-0292, which appropriates $2.1 million to WAPA to support the repair or replacement of damaged submarine electrical transmission cables serving St. John, as well as critical assessments and repairs to Unit 15 at the Randolph Harley Power Plant on St. Thomas.
Together, the submarine cable work and the assessments and repairs to Unit 15 are aimed at providing a more immediate impact on grid stability in the St. Thomas-St. John District. The damaged submarine transmission cable is a critical part of the territory’s power infrastructure and serves as an essential connection for the delivery of electricity between St. Thomas and St. John. Unit 15 is also an important component of generation capacity at the Randolph Harley Power Plant, and the approved funding will assist WAPA in identifying and addressing issues necessary to support more reliable service.
“Reliable electricity is essential to daily life, public safety, health care, business operations and the overall quality of life of our people,” Roach said. “This funding supports work that is intended to have a direct and practical impact on grid stability in the St. Thomas-St. John District, including repair or replacement of the submarine cable serving St. John and critical assessments and repairs to Unit 15 at the Randolph Harley Power Plant. These are necessary steps as we continue the broader work of strengthening the Territory’s energy system.”
Roach also approved Bill No. 36-0296, which provides a $2.3 million appropriation to the University of the Virgin Islands Scholarship Revolving Fund and changes the funding source for the program from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund to the General Fund. The measure helps continue funding for the Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program, commonly known as the Free Tuition Program, which allows eligible Virgin Islands students to pursue a degree at UVI without the burden of tuition costs.
For Roach, the approval of this measure carries special significance. While serving as a senator in the 32nd Legislature, Roach introduced the landmark legislation that established tuition-free education at the University of the Virgin Islands. His approval of this new funding measure as acting governor reflects the administration’s continued commitment to a policy he helped bring from idea to law and now to sustained implementation.
“This measure is about more than appropriating funds. It is about keeping a promise to Virgin Islands students and families,” Roach said. “When I introduced the legislation to make tuition-free education at UVI possible, it was rooted in a simple belief that the ability to pursue a college degree should not be limited by a family’s ability to pay. Today, by shifting the funding source to the General Fund and providing this appropriation, we are helping to sustain that promise and ensure that more Virgin Islanders have a fair opportunity to prepare themselves for the future.”
The Free Tuition Program remains one of the territory’s most significant investments in education, workforce development, and economic opportunity. By helping eligible students earn undergraduate degrees at UVI, the program supports families, strengthens the local workforce and encourages more Virgin Islanders to build their futures here at home.
The Bryan-Roach Administration remains committed to strengthening critical infrastructure, improving power reliability, expanding opportunity for Virgin Islands students and advancing policies that improve the lives of residents across St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island.
