Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on Monday dismissed the practical value of declaring another state of emergency over the V.I. Water and Power Authority, arguing that the utility already has federal funding, technical assistance and generators, and that what it needs most is time to complete repairs. His position stands in sharp contrast to Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett's previously announced plan to declare an emergency upon assuming office in January.
Speaking during a Government House press briefing, Bryan acknowledged receiving correspondence from Plaskett urging him to take emergency action but questioned what another declaration would accomplish.
"We already have federal dollars. We already have federal technical assistance. We have generators on the ground," Bryan said.
The governor conceded that an emergency declaration could help secure an Environmental Protection Agency waiver if additional generating equipment needed to be connected at the power plant. Beyond that potential benefit, however, he saw little practical value in the proposed action.
"What we need is time," Bryan said.
Plaskett, who first disclosed her emergency declaration plan in a November 4 interview with the Consortium, reiterated Monday that she intends to proceed with the declaration on inauguration day, January 4. She also said she expects to meet with federal officials later this week to begin discussing potential assistance.
