U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (January 21, 2025) – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or “Authority”) proudly hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, January 17, 2025, celebrating the successful completion of its Randolph Harley Power Plant (RHPP) Phase II New Generation Wärtsilä Project in the St. Thomas/St. John district. This transformative initiative, funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, marks a pivotal step in WAPA’s mission to enhance energy efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Phase II Wärtsilä project features the integration of four new, highly efficient Wärtsilä engines that will significantly reduce operational costs and contribute to long-term savings for the community. The Wärtsilä engines, which run on a dual-fuel system, are designed to primarily operate on liquid propane gas (“LPG”) but can also run exclusively on light fuel oil (“LFO”) diesel if needed. These engines will deliver a total output of 36 MW and have the capacity to power 55% of the St. Thomas/St. John district.
"With the new Wärtsilä engines up and running, we’re moving forward to bring more reliable and affordable power to our people. This is a proud moment for WAPA, and it shows our commitment to making things better for the Virgin Islands," said Karl Knight, CEO and Executive Director of WAPA. "Heartfelt thanks to our partners and the whole WAPA family for making this vision a reality."
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. commended the project’s success, stating, “This ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Phase II Wärtsilä Project is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when dedication, perseverance, and collaboration come together for the betterment of our community. The Bryan-Roach Administration is committed to addressing long-standing challenges and delivering results, even in the face of skepticism and doubt. The completion of this critical project is proof that progress is possible when we remain steadfast in our vision. I extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership and team at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, and all stakeholders who worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition. Together, we are paving the way for a future of efficient, reliable, and affordable power generation that Virgin Islanders deserve."
Newly sworn-in Senate President Milton E. Potter added during the ceremony, “The Wartsila Phase II Project represents so much more than the addition of new generation units. It’s a milestone that promises hope for the Virgin Islands, a promise of more reliable power, more affordable electricity, and a future built on sustainability and resilience.”
The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) has overseen the Wärtsilä project from its inception and has partnered with WAPA to overcome project-related challenges and ensure timely delivery. Eugene Jones Jr., Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, remarked, “this achievement is the result of a collective team effort, and we have dedicated ourselves wholeheartedly to reach this point. I am truly impressed by the commitment and collaboration demonstrated, and I take great pride in being a part of this significant milestone.”
Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR), spoke at the ceremony, underscoring the successful teamwork between ODR, WAPA and many other agencies on the Wärtsilä project. "The completion of this 95-million-dollar HUD funded CDBG-DR project is just the beginning. The Authority has also been obligated $3.3 billion in FEMA funds to continue to build redundancies and resilience,” Director Williams stated.
WAPA remains dedicated to enhancing the energy landscape of the Virgin Islands and looks forward to continued improvements in service reliability and operational efficiency.