May 13, 2005 — By Mat Probasco, Associated Press
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — U.S. Virgin Islands residents
ought to switch to solar power because of skyrocketing oil prices,
an official said Thursday.
The average electricity bill shot up 3.7 percent this month because
of the rising cost of oil, which the U.S. Virgin Islands Water and
Power Authority burns to generate power. Fuel comes from the Hovensa
oil refinery in St. Croix, the second-largest oil refinery in the
Western Hemisphere.
Home owners and businesses could save millions by drawing on the
U.S. Caribbean territory's sunny skies to make their own electricity,
said Alberto Bruno-Vega, who heads the power authority. Consumers
could buy and install solar panels with help from government loans
and grants and sell excess energy to the government, he said.
"It may sound crazy to tell customers to shop somewhere else,
but we need to switch away from fuel oil," Bruno-Vega said.
The call for a switch came after a government audit in December
detailed widespread abuses within the state-owned utility company,
resulting in millions of lost dollars passed on to consumers in
the form of higher bills.
Employees allegedly allowed unlicensed electricians to bypass water
and electricity meters to benefit certain customers. They also stole
government property and failed to report meter tampering to police,
the audit revealed.
University of the Virgin Islands officials said installing solar
water heaters and energy efficient equipment on the university's
two campuses has saved millions in electricity and water costs.
"We've virtually eliminated conventional water heating on
the campus," said Patrick O'Donnell, the school's capital projects
director.
The school is seeking US$3 million to build a 200-foot (61-meter)
tall wind-driven generator that could produce more than 2 million
kilowatt hours, spokeswoman Patrice Johnson said.
In March, the utility company warned it would not supply power
or water for new schools or health clinics unless the government
starts paying its $16 million debt to the company.
Two public hospitals and the Department of Education are among
the indebted government institutions.
Source: Associated Press |
