WAPA Says Almost 90 Percent of Total Composite Poles Installed Throughout Territory

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority continues its efforts to improve grid reliability with its composite pole project now at 88 percent completion territory-wide, the Authority announced Thursday.

Recognizing the critical importance of a robust and resilient power infrastructure, WAPA began the Composite Pole Project in 2017. The project is 90 percent funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Program, with a 10 percent match being provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the press release stated.

Composite poles, made of advanced materials, possess exceptional durability, withstanding extreme weather conditions, including high winds and corrosive environments and offer many advantages over traditional wooden poles. They are also more resistant to rot, decay and termite damage, ensuring longevity and significantly reducing maintenance costs for the Authority in the long term, the release stated.

In less densely populated areas, composite poles offer an advantage over undergrounding because installation typically involves easy replacement of an existing pole, whereas undergrounding involves extensive excavation and more lengthy construction times, it said.