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Virgin Islands Energy Blast for November

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St. Croix affordable Housing Development Is Energy Efficient, Includes Solar Water Heaters

One hundred and two new, energy-efficient apartments with solar hot water heaters, low-flow water faucets and rainwater-collecting cisterns are starting to take residents at the Louis E. Brown affordable housing development in Estate Paradise. For a video of comments about the solar water heaters from an installer and remarks by Gov. John de Jongh click here.
Residents Learn About USDA Energy Grants
Over two dozen St. Croix residents attended USDA Rural Development seminar on Renewable Energy and Energy Programs at the VI Small Business Development Center located in the Sunshine Mall in mid-November.
Rural Development had a $155 billion portfolio of loans and administered $20 billion in loans, loan guarantees and grants through programs in the past fiscal year. Although funds were allocated to the Virgin Islands, none were used last year. The last business to use the Rural Development fund for a renewable energy project was Sugar Mill Veterinary Center in Little Princess in 2008.
Joe Muller, program director for the USDA, told the audience that all small businesses in the Virgin Islands were eligible to apply for the grants because the entire USVI is considered a rural area.
The program that Muller discussed that received the most interest from the audience was the Rural Energy for America Program. The program provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. Renewable energy systems include those that generate energy from wind, the sun and biomass. Energy-efficiency projects typically involve installing or upgrading equipment to significantly reduce energy use. Energy audits and feasibility studies are also eligible for assistance. Eligible applicants for energy audits include state, or local governments and universities.
Grants would go up to 25 percent of the project costs. Loan guarantees cannot exceed 75 percent of the project costs. A similar seminar was held earlier on St. Thomas.
For more information, go toUSDA Rural Development Web site at
Virgin Islanders Trained in Energy Assessments
Sixteen Virgin Island residents were trained in state of the art, energy-efficiency measures during November
The U.S. Department of Energy, in affiliation with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Virgin Islands Energy Office, offered an Energy Assessment Training Course Nov. 7 through Nov.10 at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus, UVI-CELL building.
The objective of the course was to teach energy-efficiency, assessment techniques using analysis and assessment tools. After completing the course, trainees will be able to conduct comprehensive, energy assessments. Targeted trainees include energy managers, facility managers, building engineers, HVAC technicians, and electricians.
The course included interactive presentations each morning followed by hands-on walk through assessments in the afternoon. On the first day participants audited Marina Market, a supermarket located in Red Hook. The Legislature building on the waterfront in St Thomas was also assessed as part of the training. The trainees on-site were taught how to fill out data collection forms, use analytical tools created by NREL, and how to generate a comprehensive energy assessment report.
Beside the Energy Office, which is a division of the Governor’s Office, other participants include the Caribbean Green Technology Center, Department of the Interior, Housing and Finance Authority, the Division of Building Permits, and members of the general public.
For more information about the course, contact: Ilene Garner at 693-1101 or Miguel Quinones at 714-8436.
 Church-turbine-3-stx-11-13-11St. Croix Church Breaks Ground for 10Kw Wind Turbine
The St. Croix Reformed Church held a ceremony in November to mark the groundbreaking for the installation of a 10Kw wind turbine on church grounds at the top of Kings Hill. The congregation hopes to put the money saved by producing its own electricity into missions. The turbine is being made possible by a $50,000 grant through the V.I. Energy Office. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009.

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