WAPA Says VIHFA Suspension Has No Immediate Impact, but Battery Project and Local Match Remain at Risk

The V.I. Water and Power Authority has not been notified of any immediate disruption to its ongoing projects following HUD’s suspension of the V.I. Housing Finance Authority and will continue work already authorized, CEO Karl Knight said Thursday. However, the suspension could still affect a proposed battery backup system for WAPA’s eastern substation, which has not yet received authorization, and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding intended to satisfy local matching requirements for FEMA-supported projects. Mr. Knight addressed the potential consequences during Thursday’s meeting of WAPA’s Governing Board after directors asked him to assess the effect of the VIHFA suspension on the utility. “We have not yet been made privy to any direct impacts to WAPA,” Mr. Knight responded. “I am still letting the powers that be sort through and work with the staff at HUD to really understand the implications.” Major Projects Already Closed or Near Completion Two signif...