WAPA Secures $1 Million Grant From Dept. of Interior for Fleet of Electric Bucket and Pickup Trucks

A $1 million grant application by Virgin Islands Water and Authority has been approved by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, WAPA announced Tuesday. The monies are earmarked to jumpstart WAPA’s move towards developing a mixture of hybrid and electric fleet vehicles that include bucket and pick-up trucks along with associated equipment used to regularly maintain the territory’s electric grids.

“WAPA embraces transportation electrification and is committed to leading by example through the initiation of electrification of its own internal fleet,” said Governing Board Chairman and V.I. Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming.

According to the release, the shift of the vehicle fleet from fossil fuel to one that is electric powered is a primary conduit to energy resiliency in the Virgin Islands, and the territory is well suited to leverage the rapidly developing technology and infrastructure within the industry. “WAPA will strive to adopt initiatives and implement policy that reduces the dependence of imported and volatile fossil fuels. This is a critical move to bolster economic and societal sustainability,” said Noel Hodge, WAPA interim executive director / CEO.

Electric vehicles do not require costly and emission heavy gasoline or diesel fuels for operation and as the energy mix in the Virgin Islands continues to transition to more locally sourced renewable energy, the territory’s transportation landscape is primed to become fully self-sustainable.