On Thursday, the University of the Virgin Islands RTPark celebrated the completion of its 423-kilowatt, ground-mounted solar farm and companion teaching array, the first layout of its kind in the territory.
The system now fully powers the RTPark headquarters and doubles as a hands-on training site for UVI’s Renewable Energy Technology students. Developed under the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative, the project links clean infrastructure with applied learning, strengthening workforce pathways and demonstrating a modern model of university-industry partnership.
The project, first discussed in 2019 and the groundbreaking occurred in May and was repeatedly described as the result of persistence and collaboration. Speakers credited Special Assistant to the Executive Director Aminah Saleem for championing the effort through years of planning and regulatory processes. Many team members referred to the initiative as “Aminah’s baby,” saying she “stayed on top of it day after day, even when it seemed impossible.”
Hugo Hodge, president of Bolt Energy LLC, described the system’s engineering, which includes 936 modules designed to withstand 185 miles per hour, along with a smaller array dedicated to student training. “These modules can handle 185-mile-per-hour winds. This array is built for our reality,” Hodge said. He added that the design already includes provisions for battery storage, noting, “With batteries, this becomes a full resilience system.”
RTPark Board Chair Ian Tomlinson said the project reflects how strong partnerships can expand opportunities for Virgin Islanders. He credited Executive Director Eric Sonnier for steady leadership and said the team “pushes technology forward and pushes our students forward.” Tomlinson added that he hopes young people will see renewable-energy careers as attainable. “If you can see it, you can be it,” he said.
“Sustainability is not optional for us,” said UVI President Safiya George, who emphasized that the project aligns with the university’s responsibility to pursue sustainability. “It is integral to who we are and what we must build for the future,” she said. George also highlighted the educational benefits of the installation. “This project is a classroom. It is hands-on training. It is an opportunity,” she said, thanking partners for making the work possible.
Director of the Caribbean Green Technology Center, Greg Guannel, noted that the process itself offered real-world training for those involved in drafting the RFP, navigating FEMA requirements, and reviewing engineering components. “We grew through this project,” he said. He added that the system was completed on time and on budget, and that students will now be able to observe the same technologies they study in class operating on campus.
“This is what common sense synergy looks like,” Virgin Islands Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming said. He said the solar array represents a natural alignment between UVI, the RTPark and the territory’s clean-energy goals. “UVI is the heart of education in the Virgin Islands, so it only makes sense that UVI is where we build the future of renewable energy.” He stressed the importance of continued workforce development. “If we want energy independence, we need our young people trained and ready,” Fleming said.
Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien, who was also present, highlighted the extensive effort required to meet federal compliance standards, noting that “resilience isn’t only about infrastructure. It is about the people who make these projects possible.”
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., along with Sens. Novelle E. Francis Jr. and Hubert L. Frederick, also attended the ribbon-cutting.
Following the ceremony, attendees were given a guided tour by Malachi Peterson of the solar farm and inverter room, allowing partners, students and guests to see the system’s components and layout up close.
Immediately afterward, the UVI RTPark and RTPark client I3PG LLC convened the Critical Resilience Forum, a half-day program focused on energy resilience, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and continuity of operations. The forum brought together representatives from the Office of Disaster Recovery, the Virgin Islands Energy Office, WAPA, VITEMA, UVI and private-sector partners, and included demonstrations of Hack The Box, a cyber training platform now being introduced to UVI students.
St. Croix Source
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