Hogensborg Solar Farm Goes Live, Giving St. Croix Capacity to Generate Over Half of Island's Energy

St. Croix’s newest sustainable energy facility officially opened on Friday, as government officials and Water and Power Authority representatives gathered at VI Electron’s 12-megawatt solar farm in Estate Hogensborg—located just off the first right turn heading west after the Williams Delight traffic lights. This brings solar capacity on the Big Island to 26 megawatts, WAPA Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight said. With a peak energy load of 45 megawatts, solar power can now comprise over half of the energy generated daily for St. Croix. “We are dawning a new era here at WAPA, and you are here to witness that here today,” said Mr. Knight at the ribbon cutting event. “This is not your father's power company.” Despite the strides represented by Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Knight insisted that the utility was not yet ready to pass on savings to the consumer. “I owe everybody under the sun,” he said, referring to WAPA's financial position. Deferred maintenance on equipment was...