Wapa

WAPA Board Approves Solar Storage Amendments Despite Chairman’s Concerns Over Costs and Oversight

Once again, the chair of the V.I. Water and Power Authority Governing Board found himself at odds with members as the board approved amendments to solar energy power purchase agreements.  WAPA management was seeking board approval to incorporate energy storage service agreements to the existing power purchase agreements made with solar farm operators on St. Thomas – STB Solar LLC in Bovoni and STF Solar LLC in Estate Fortuna. The PPAs themselves would also be amended to come into conformance with the overarching agreement. “The amendment is needed to establish WAPA exclusive rights” to the battery energy storage systems during the contract terms, said Lemuel Lavinier, WAPA's Electric Division Chief Operating Officer. “This conforms to the board's prior approach for clarifying storage, metering and interconnection roles,” he noted.  “The structured agreement is ultimately a lease plus an agreement to purchase any of the power discharge from the battery systems directly onto the grid,...