FEMA Fully Replacing St. Croix Power Plant, Frees Up Funds for Other Projects – Like STJ Cable Replacement, Maintenance

The government “has never before been closer” to fixing its issues with the V.I. Water and Power Authority, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said Tuesday while announcing that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to fund the full replacement of St. Croix’s Richmond Power Plant, along with two generators on St. Thomas.

Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Octalien-Williams outlined an approximately 12-month process from the recently received approval to the issuing of solicitations for services, saying that the government is being “proactive” by implementing a layered approach to ensure the project’s execution.

Williams-Octalien said the original estimate submitted to FEMA in December of 2022 was about $400-$600 million, and the goal now is to have the costs validated by September in order for the funds to be quickly obligated to the territory. In the interim, Octalien-Williams said her office will be working with WAPA to start drafting solicitations and putting contracts in place so that the work is not delayed once final approvals come through.