Optimized Energy Solutions for Tropical Environments

Skyrocketing utility costs and an increasing desire to reduce carbon emissions are driving savvy business leaders to look for the most cost effective and efficient solutions for energy savings in commercial and industrial applications.

This was the premise of the recent Quality Electric Supply-sponsored, territory-wide Energy Management Conference for commercial and industrial environments held at St. Croix’s VI Cardiac Center at the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital. Energy experts, policy-makers and equipment manufacturers presented strategies and technological advances for businesses to dramatically reduce energy consumption and costs.

Hugo Hodge, pictured here, outlined the many initiatives underway by the WAPA board to implement a wide range of alternative energy technologies.

Karl Knight, new Executive Director of VI Energy Office, presented the aggressive programs underway to meet Governor deJongh’s goal of a 60% reduction of fossil-fuel energy usage by 2025. Dr. Adam Warren from U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) addressed the Federal resources being provided to WAPA and the VI Energy Office to ameliorate the energy crisis.

Former USVI Senator Basil Ottley, now with the U.S. Department of the Interior, outlined the role of Energy Development Island Nations (EDIN – USVI) and the resources being provided to create/stabilize the local EDIN-USVI working groups who will deliver the cultural changes needed for the community to understand their role in reducing consumption. Paul Chakroff, Executive Director of St. Croix Environmental Association gave updates on critical USVI projects underway including the status of the Alpine contract.

Over 50 USVI commercial business owners, hotel general managers, military and policy-makers as far reaching as Nevis and Tortola were in attendance at this day-long intensive that delivered technical developments from leading energy saving equipment manufacturers from the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Europe.