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.

The Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee spent Thursday working through a long agenda that touched nearly every branch of government — confirming judges, vetting nominees, and approving a slate of bills that senators said reflect “where the territory is trying to go.”

By the end of the day, lawmakers had advanced four gubernatorial nominations and six legislative measures to the full body, with committee members praising what Chair Sen. Carla Joseph called “a productive, grounded session.”

Much of the morning was devoted to the nomination of Magistrate Judge Venicia H. Velasquez and Attorney Melanie L. Turnbull to the Superior Court. Both nominees spoke about restoring public confidence in the judiciary through fairness, accessibility, and consistent leadership. Velasquez, who has served on the St. Croix bench for more than a decade, told senators that timely justice depends on structure and accountability. “Every person who enters the courtroom should feel heard and respected — whether they win or lose,” she said, adding that her division issued more than 500 civil orders last year and closed nearly as many cases.

Turnbull, a veteran public defender and nominee to the Family Division on St. Thomas, said her experience representing vulnerable clients has shaped her understanding of justice. “I will run the courtroom with empathy,” she said, “but my decisions will always be grounded in the law.” She called for digitized filing systems and simplified court forms to make the process less daunting for residents. Virgin Islands Bar Association President Russell Pate endorsed both nominees, describing them as “the embodiment of competence, fairness, and service.”

In the afternoon, attention shifted to Jennifer Matarangas-King, nominated to lead the Tourism Department. The St. Croix native, whose career bridges communications, marketing, and executive leadership, outlined a vision centered on digital innovation, workforce development, and stronger connections between residents and the tourism economy. “I’m humbled to do what I love most — serve my community,” she said. “Our people are our greatest asset. We have to show what we’re doing locally — not just the festivals and promotions, but the work behind the scenes: the greeters, the planners, the staff managing 30,000 visitors a day. That’s part of our story too.”

Matarangas-King’s testimony prompted broad discussion about tourism’s future. Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. urged that any marketing strategy must also address sustainability and infrastructure. “We can’t keep attracting visitors to the same beaches and not take care of them,” he said. Senate President Milton Potter described her presentation as “refreshing in its clarity and realism,” while Joseph emphasized that the department’s success “will be measured in how well it engages the community.”

Matarangas-King agreed, adding that tourism “doesn’t just happen in hotels and airports — it happens in neighborhoods, schools, and small businesses. It’s about creating pride and opportunity.”

Also approved was Bernisha B. Liburd, a senior analyst with the Bureau of Economic Research, who was nominated to the Virgin Islands Cannabis Advisory Board. Liburd said the territory has the potential to create a regulated cannabis market that balances opportunity and oversight. “My work has always been guided by evidence — data that tells the story of where we are and how to move forward,” she said. She described plans for a seed-to-sale tracking system, compliance training, and public outreach to ensure equity and transparency. Joseph called her testimony “measured, methodical, and informed,” adding that “the industry’s credibility will depend on data, not politics.”

Before adjourning, senators moved quickly through six bills, forwarding each to the full Legislature. Bill No. 36-0291, amending the Family Caregiver Leave Act, expands job protections for employees caring for elderly or ill relatives — a measure Sen. Angel Bolques Jr. said “makes workplaces more humane without putting small businesses at risk.” Bill No. 36-0293, modernizing taxi commission payments through digital platforms, drew bipartisan support for improving efficiency and accountability. Its sponsor, Sen. Marvin Blyden, said the update “brings an outdated system into the modern era.”

Bill No. 36-0295 streamlines building permits for housing and capital projects — a move Potter described as “critical to our economic recovery.” Bill No. 36-0297 appropriates funds for long-overdue infrastructure work, while Bill No. 36-0300 expands small-business grant opportunities under the Economic Development Authority. The final measure, Resolution No. 1897, honors Virgin Islanders who have distinguished themselves through public service — a nod, Joseph said, “to the people whose quiet contributions shape our community every day.”