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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesVIenergize Seminar Launches WAPA Energy Education Program

VIenergize Seminar Launches WAPA Energy Education Program

To educate consumers about renewable energy and help reduce the cost of utilities, the V.I. Water and Power Authority’s new business unit and a network of qualified energy professionals – VIenergize – was introduced to the public Friday at the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital’s Cardiac Care Center.

“The purpose is to provide services to consumers and identify vendors that are able to provide those services,” said Karl Knight, director of the V.I. Energy Office.

The turnout was “good, a nice diverse crowd,” Knight said about the audience of around 100 homeowners, contractors and utility workers.

According to Julio Rhymer, WAPA’s chief financial officer and manager of the unit, one side of the VIenergize Services will work directly with consumer, through a business unit within WAPA. The unit will include engineers, financial managers, technicians and consultants from the Pricing and Rates division who will advise consumers. The team will educate residents about energy efficiency, conduct energy audits and give advice about equipment, financing and vendors.

VIenergize services coordinator David McGeown said another facet of the program will be the VIenergize Services Network, the primary communications tool for consumers and vendors. The network will allow consumers to access technical assistance, products, financing and vendors. Consumers will be encouraged to leave feedback and comments on the website.

Many of the vendors and contractors attending Friday’s seminar enrolled in the VIenergize network. Others can sign up at Saturday’s energy fair at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agriculture Complex between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., register at www.viwapa.vi or email vies@viwapa.vi.

Contractors and builders who are part of the network can either train at the University of the Virgin Islands or become certified through the Building Performance Institute, whose testing and training center will be at UVI. There are already several programs in “green building” at UVI according to Ilene Garner of UVI’s Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning center.

According to Tiger Adolph of BPI, testing and training is conducted by local trainers for local workers who learn the best building methods for the local climate.

Adolph offered energy tips to Friday’s audience. Proper attic insulation is the No. 1 energy saver in any location, she said. The larger the footprint (building), the more potential for energy savings and LED lights are preferable to CFLs.

“If you don’t have CFLs, skip it and go right to LED,” she said, adding that these provide better lighting and are more cost effective.

Energy professionals and management were among the speakers at Friday’s seminar, including Nikolao Pula, director of the Officer of Insular Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior; Basil Ottley, USVI field officer for the U.S. D.O.I.’s Insular Affairs; and Jennifer DeCesaro, acting director with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The federal Department of the Interior provided the grant to WAPA to develop the VIenergize business/consumer unit.

Ottley told the Source that the federal department understands the need for renewable energy and wanted to find a way to make it available to consumers. The department will simply administer the grant and local professionals will run the program.

Pula said the Interior Department has been involved in the territory’s energy planning since 2010. If the program is successful, it may be implemented in the other U.S. territories, Pula said.

Other seminar presenters included keynote speaker Jennifer Nugent-Hill of the V.I. Economic Development Authority; Mark Eckard of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce; Jack Pickle of the Hotel and Tourism Association; Paul Chakroff of the St. Croix Environmental Association; and Leonard Farante of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

Saturday’s energy fair begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. It will include presentations including how-to reduce WAPA bills, hiring a contractor and energy efficiency at home. Raffle winners will be announced at 3:45 p.m.

For contractors and vendors, there will be sessions on permitting, applying to be a VISN vendor, solving the territory’s energy challenges and setting energy efficiency standards.

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