A Committee of the Whole hearing Wednesday stretched for hours as senators worked through testimony on three major issues shaping the territory’s energy and economic future: two proposed solar farms on St. Thomas, the Crown Bay Redevelopment Project, and a financing structure tied to Frenchman’s Reef.
Meeting as the Committee of the Whole meant no votes were taken, but lawmakers pressed testifiers for hours as they weighed reliability concerns, community distrust, and the long-term financial stakes of the territory’s largest ongoing projects before convening after in full session.
Much of the morning and mid-afternoon centered on the solar farm applications for Estates Fortuna and Bovoni, which developers hope to move through quickly given compressed federal deadlines tied to renewable energy tax credits. Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol told lawmakers the projects were critical to stabilizing the St. Thomas grid and closing the gap with St. Croix, where new solar and storage units now deliver 45 megawatts of reliable daytime power.
Meanwhile, V.I. Water and Power Authority CEO Karl Knight said the arrays would add 35 megawatts of daytime capacity—more than half of the district’s peak daytime demand—and save millions in fuel each year. But residents raised familiar and forceful concerns, blaming earlier installations for storm-related debris and calling for genuine community engagement before further approvals.
The debate grew more technical as senators pressed for details on anchoring systems, environmental safeguards, liability, archaeological findings, battery protections, insurance coverage, and notification requirements. Several lawmakers acknowledged the tight federal timelines but said the concerns from residents were rooted in lived experience, not speculation.
The hearing shifted next to the Crown Bay Redevelopment Project, a $200 million public-private investment requiring the transfer of several government parcels in Subbase to the V.I. Port Authority. Officials from VIPA, Cruise Terminals International, and Royal Caribbean Group described a multi-year revitalization that includes a new cruise berth, expanded commercial space, a waterfront day resort, and new event areas. Senators questioned the 40-year waiver of submerged land fees in exchange for a $7 million up-front payment, sought clarity on lease protections for existing tenants, and pushed partners to incorporate more authentic local and cultural elements instead of creating what one senator called “a cruise-port-in-a-box.”
Testimony concluded with discussion of a proposed amendment to the Hotel Development Act to create a Public Finance Authority subsidiary capable of issuing bonds for the Frenchman’s Reef transaction. Finance Commissioner Kevin McCurdy said the move was needed to allow broader investor participation while keeping the bonds secured solely by hotel revenues, with no government guarantee. Advisors said the structure safeguards the asset and allows the resort to revert to government ownership once the bonds are repaid.
Lawmakers later reconvened in full legislative session to approve the project-related bills and send them onto the governor for final signature.
St. Croix Source
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