St. Croix – In what marks a major step in the Administration’s push to expand access to renewable energy across the U.S. Virgin Islands, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. joined the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and project partners on June 13, 2025, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hogensborg Solar Farm, the largest utility-scale solar installation in Virgin Islands history.
“This is a wonderful celebration today of an achievement of another solar project under our belt of utility scale,” said WAPA CEO Karl Knight. “WAPA started off many years ago to transition from its dependency on heavy crude oil and then we transitioned to propane and now to renewable. The evolution and transformation of WAPA is continuing…This is not your father’s power company.”
Mr. Knight went on to detail the accomplishment.
“This brings solar capacity on the Big Island to 26 megawatts. With a peak energy load of 45 megawatts, solar power can now comprise over half the energy generated daily for St. Croix. We are dawning a new era here at WAPA and you are here to witness that today,” he said.
Once WAPA straightens out its previous financial predicaments, savings to consumers are expected to kick in sometime next year.
The commissioning of the facility represents a key milestone in the Bryan-Roach Administration’s comprehensive efforts to expand renewable energy production, reduce the Territory’s reliance on imported fuels, and increase access to affordable, sustainable energy solutions for Virgin Islands residents.
“The Hogensborg Solar Farm represents real progress in our energy transformation and our work to ensure reliable and affordable energy for the people of the Virgin Islands,” said Governor Bryan. “This project moves us closer to a future where we can depend less on expensive imported fuel and more on clean, local energy. It also reflects our larger effort to transform the Water and Power Authority into a more modern and sustainable utility.”
Located in Estate Hogensborg on St. Croix, the facility includes 48,210 solar panels and has the capacity to generate up to 22.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity. It also features a battery energy storage system by Honeywell to enhance grid reliability and store excess solar energy for use when sunlight is limited. Developed by VI Electron and owned by VIRAPC, the Hogensborg Solar Farm is WAPA’s fourth utility-scale renewable energy project and a critical component of the Authority’s broader microgrid strategy.
The Bryan-Roach Administration has made renewable energy access a central pillar of its Vision 2040 agenda, which calls for reaching 75% renewable energy use across the Territory. This commitment is being advanced not only through utility-scale projects like Hogensborg, but also through direct investments that help residents and small communities transition to solar energy and battery storage.
Through initiatives like the Solar for All: Ah We Program and the VI Battery Storage Program, the Administration is actively working to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for low and moderate income households, while enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities. These programs administered by the Virgin Islands Energy Office, are designed to lower utility costs, reduce outages, and ensure that clean energy benefits are shared equitably throughout the Territory.
Governor Bryan reaffirmed his Administration’s resolve to accelerate the Territory’s clean energy transition and deliver meaningful relief to residents.
“We are not just building solar farms – we are building energy independence for the Virgin Islands,” the Governor stated. “Every panel we install and every battery we deploy brings us one step closer to a future where our people have reliable, affordable power that doesn’t depend on the next fuel shipment.”
The Governor, whose term in office ends in a year-and-a-half, went on to say a few words about his legacy.
“If there is ever to be a legacy, I want my legacy to be that I’ve taught Virgin Islanders that sacrifice, and hard work, determination and collaboration and trust is what is going to bring us forward…There is no gain without pain. But in this Virgin Islands we are moving forward, number one, all the time,” the Governor concluded.
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