Right now, Virgin Islanders have the unique opportunity to determine our energy future. This is so closely linked to our economic future that the choice will affect us for decades. Should we be tied to ever-increasing oil and coal prices? Should we go backward and use 100 year old coal technology? Now is the time to begin the switch to renewable energy sources. WAPA’s search for alternative power providers is the ideal opportunity to shift the Virgin Islands to renewable sources such as solar, wind, solid waste, and ocean thermal energy. For the following reasons, The Virgin Islands Renewable Energy Organization (VIREO) urges WAPA to select renewable energy now:

Energy independence: Using renewable energy is the only path to long term energy independence for the Virgin Islands. We have large supplies of solar, wind and ocean thermal energy. These “fuels” have no cost, do not need to be shipped in, and are not vulnerable to price spikes or supply concerns. We can not continue to be held hostage to the escalating costs and uncertain supplies of fossil fuels.

Price stability: The price of coal – especially “clean” coal – is guaranteed to rise, just as the cost of oil has increased. The cost of capturing renewable energy will be stable or decline. Transitioning to renewable energy now is the only way to prevent prices from rising again in the future.

Renewable energy is viable now: A combination of tested renewable sources such as solar PV, wind, solar thermal (hot water heaters), conservation, and efficiencies in energy production and distribution could replace over 15 MW of power currently being produced by burning oil. Ocean thermal energy could provide up to 10 MW more. And higher MW returns from these renewable sources depend only on the size of the installations.

Health risks: Renewable energy has no health risks. In contrast, burning fossil fuels –and especially coal – has many risks, some of which are just being discovered. For example, new studies in China have found that burning coal can cause long term damage to children. Virgin Islanders should not be subjected to those risks.

Global warming: Burning any fossil fuel, whether oil or coal, generates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The Virgin Islands are vulnerable to damage from sea level rise, ocean current and temperature changes, and other effects of climate change. The Virgin Islands must do its part now to reduce, not increase, greenhouse gas emissions.