WAPA to spend $469,420 on feasibility of link to Puerto Rico grid
Published: August 27, 2010
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ST. CROIX — The V.I. Water and Power Authority board gave the OK on Thursday for the agency to spend up to $469,420 for a technical feasibility study on a possible power grid interconnection between Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
“What an important first step this is,” said board member Gerald Groner.
The board passed a resolution authorizing the authority to contract with Siemens Power Tech Inc. to perform a feasibility study exploring the most effective and efficient technologies and design characteristics for the interconnection.
Discussions between WAPA and the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority about a power grid interconnection between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have been ongoing, and the board approved conducting a feasibility study in April.
WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. said that a team of engineers from WAPA and the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority, the U.S. Energy Department and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory evaluated six bids that were submitted in response to a June request for proposals. Siemens was the recommendation.
The study will consider various routes for laying underwater cable from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, from the East End of St. Thomas to the British Virgin Islands and from St. Thomas to St. Croix, which is a challenging route because of underwater terrain, said Clinton Hedrington, WAPA director of Transmission and Distribution.
The contractor will look at other routes to bring the grid to St. Croix, as well. The study also will analyze operational cost reduction, fuel savings and reducing carbon emissions, officials said.
The contract includes a base bid of $369,420, and $100,000 to study other case scenarios. It will be funded with a mix of grant money from the Department of Energy and matching funds from a local legislative appropriation, officials said.
In other action, the WAPA board:
• Approved a $38,322 final payment to the Maguire Group for the new heat-recovery steam generator, Unit 24, at the Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix, which was dedicated Wednesday. Including the final payment the board authorized Thursday, the entire contract amount for the generator, which creates electricity using the excess heat given off by other units at the plant, is $1,441,333.
• Modified the use of some of the 2010 Electric System Revenue Bond proceeds, using $1.25 million for the Harley Substation on St. Thomas and $942,000 for Unit 24 on St. Croix.
• Approved a $430,000 contract with GEC to provide supplemental maintenance services for its power plants, with $250,000 allocated for work in the St. Thomas/St. John District and $180,000 allocated for work on St. Croix.
• Approved $1,363,654 in funding for the detailed inspection of the Unit 11 Steam Turbine on St. Croix, as part of a scheduled five-year preventative maintenance program. The funding includes a $590,000 contract with Dresser-Rand for the inspection and $773,654 to carry out any needed repairs on the turbine, generator and ancillary equipment.
• Approved a $377,690 contract to Apex Construction to install 1,500 linear feet of 6-inch electrical duct bands and two manholes in Red Hook on St. Thomas, from the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School area to the East End Substation. Putting the transmission line underground will protect it from hurricanes and increase the reliability and efficiency of power in Red Hook and on St. John, officials said.
• Authorized Hodge to negotiate a one-year retainer agreement with Bryan’s Electrical Contracting for help with emergency restoration services in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster.
• Approved entering into a $350,000 contract with Electric Supply of Tampa for purchasing and stocking pole-mounted transformers for the authority for a year at fixed prices.
• Approved $354,238 to Fortress Electrical Co. for installing high voltage underground cables and associated hardware for the Christiansted Underground Project.
• Extended for up to 90 days an existing contract, not to exceed $211,619, between WAPA and Asplundh Tree Expert Co. for trimming and removing trees, brush and other forestry services. The extension is so that WAPA can complete a competitive bidding process.
— Contact Joy Blackburn at 774-8772 ext. 455 or e-mail jblackburn@dailynews.vi.
