Preparing for the Future of Energy in the U.S. Virgin Islands

In April, Senator Angel Bolques Jr. visited Eaton Arecibo Micro Grid in Puerto Rico. At the conclusion of the visit, his office’s press releases in the coming months highlighted the importance of this pioneering clean energy project.

In press statements published throughout the year, including social media posts, Bolques stated that he “underwent an informative and insightful visit to Arecibo Micro Grid” together with regional and national partners.

The Eaton Arecibo project is the largest clean energy microgrid in Puerto Rico, designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes. As Eaton begins construction of a second microgrid at its manufacturing facility in Las Piedras, the future of energy resilience in Puerto Rico looks brighter.

This project is part of Eaton’s long-term vision to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, demonstrating its continued commitment to Puerto Rico’s sustainable future.

“My office successfully organized field visits to Arecibo Micro Grid in Puerto Rico with the Director of Energy to conduct focused field discussions focused on increasing energy resiliency through innovative microgrid technology,” Bolques said. “This facility boasts a 5-megawatt solar array and a 1.1-megawatt energy storage system designed to reduce energy costs by 25% while increasing grid reliability in disaster-prone areas.”

During the visit, a ribbon cutting was held at the new Eaton facility, marking an important step forward for resilient, clean energy solutions for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Bolques said he has established contacts with industry leaders such as Mike Yelton, President of Eaton’s Electric Sector; Victor Mojica, Project Manager – Arecibo Micro Grid; Matt Barnes, Director of Enel Energy Systems America; Honorable Senators from Puerto Rico, Omar J. Marrero Díaz, Secretary of State of Puerto Rico; Manuel Laboy Rivera, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Trade and Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company; Agustín F. Carbó, Director of the Puerto Rico Grid Rehabilitation and Modernization Team at DOE; Harold Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President of Eaton Business System; and Thomas “Tommy” E. Kierce, APR, Director of Business Development at Lord Construction Group, Inc. emphasized their joint efforts in energy sustainability.

The senator said the visit is an example of the potential of microgrids to transform energy infrastructure, setting a strong precedent for future initiatives. It promises a brighter, more sustainable future for the Caribbean and demonstrates the critical role advanced energy solutions can play in building a resilient energy landscape. Bolques toured the site with Virgin Islands Energy Director Kyle Fleming, who is also WAPA board chairman. Fleming is a key player in the USVI’s multi-year energy transformation.

WAPA is currently in the early stages of building out energy infrastructure to support microgrids in the USVI. Microgrids are small-scale power grids that receive and/or generate energy from renewable energy sources, energy storage devices, and other power generation units, such as a main power plant.

Last June, after WAPA announced progress on a future microgrid for Saint John, the Virgin Islands Disaster Recovery Office said the territory’s exposure to extreme weather conditions demonstrated the need for microgrid technology. Government officials said it would increase the resilience of the local government’s power system by providing backup power in the event of a grid failure, such as loss of generation at the Richmond Power Plant on Saint Croix or the Randolph Harley Power Plant on Saint Thomasor outages caused by car accidents or overgrown trees. What’s more, microgrids can also operate independently and still provide electricity to critical areas—for example, hospitals during a tropical storm—improving reliability and reducing service disruptions.

“The Eaton Arecibo project, with its 5MW solar and 1.1MW battery storage microgrid, is proof of what is possible when innovation meets determination. Seeing firsthand how this technology works gives me great hope for the future of the Virgin Islands energy landscape,” Bolques said.

Bolques Bulletin, May-June 2024 issue.published by the senator’s team, it featured information on recent developments and Knowledge24’s discussion with global technology leaders on cybersecurity and digital information.

“I recently participated in Knowledge24, connecting with global technology leaders to discuss cybersecurity, health technology and digital transformation,” said Bolques. “Along with Senate President Francis Jr. and Director Ross, we gained insights that promise significant progress for the Virgin Islands. We are excited about the potential of these technologies to transform our government operations and service delivery. Looking forward, I look forward to finalizing cybersecurity legislation and implementing digital transformation initiatives that will revolutionize services across our territory. The road ahead is bright and our goal is to turn these opportunities into tangible benefits for our citizens and strengthen the Virgin Islands’ technological leadership.”

His team too publishes two-page newsletters.

The territory’s senator was widely excited about the grand opening of the renovated track on Saint Thomas and the humanitarian award to Clinton E. Phipps.

“I recently attended the grand opening of the renovated Clinton E. Phipps Track, marking the exciting return of horse racing to the Virgin Islands. During this event, we witnessed an inspiring moment when the Phipps family received the Humanitarian Award, awarded posthumously to Mr. Clinton E. Phipps,” Bolques said. “This prestigious honor is a testament to Mr. Phipps’ commitment to the 6th Horse Races and his extensive humanitarian efforts. Mr. Phipps’ involvement in the “Sport of Kings” and his service to the community has left a lasting legacy that will be remembered for generations. It was an honor to meet his son, Mr. Clayton Phipps, at this event, reinforcing the lasting impact of his family’s legacy. Congratulations to the Phipps family and the bright future of horse racing in our Caribbean region.