Schooner Bay Market - 24/7 Generator Usage

There are some homeowners that do this and receently the was a STT dentist that ran his generator to power his business.
Why don't you ask owners of Schooner Bay market?

Would you even need a permit to run a generator 24/7 for a business?

There are some homeowners that do this and receently the was a STT dentist that ran his generator to power his business.
Why don't you ask owners of Schooner Bay market?

Would you even need a permit to run a generator 24/7 for a business?

Good question...anyone know the answer???

did wapa cut them off? i was in there last week and other than bare shelves, it was normal. they could have had a great market if they had only chosen to stock it

I was convinced I had read that it was "against the law" to run a generator 24/7, but cannot find anything about it online, so maybe I'm mistaken.
Thought Home Depot did it?

About Schooner Bay Market... now that Foodtown is going to open a grocery store just down the road, it's not looking good for SB Market...

It might fall under the Clean Air Act. They may need an air permit as they would be considered a new point source of air pollution.

I ran into David the Fish Monger the other day who used to have the shop where Maria's Cantina is now.

He suggested he'll be handling the meats and fish at the new FoodTown.

I can't imagine based on previous experience that running a generator is cost effective even where WAPA's high rates are concerned.

As far as running a generator 24/7 I believe there are no local laws prohibiting such usage unless the generator operation is disruptive to neighbors and there's no muffler to reduce the noise.

Down to the bottom line it sounds as though maybe Schooner Bay is going the route of Marina Market on STT.

Oi vey gefiltefish, they come and they go!

For those uninformed, Schooner Bay and Gannett Hardware are owned by the same folks. Both businesses are going downhill and will, most likely, be gone soon. Sad situation because EE(nders) always shopped there.

Like the old Texan said: "It's like cutt'n the dog's tail off a inch atta time...

Where is Foodtown going to open up?

IMO Schooner Bay has good downhill ever since they bought it. And the hardware store was an ill-conceived idea from the start. It was all a result of bad feeling between the owners and the owners of Gallows Bay. But they have employed folks for the better part of 3 years and that's a plus.

The Foodtown (not sure if that is what it will be called) is opening in the old Kings Superette location - next to Pickled Greek.

Running a generator is very very loud! Noise ordinance should be enforced!

Running a generator is very very loud! Noise ordinance should be enforced!

Not if they're properly muffled. The newer models have way better muffling systems while even the older generation can be adapted by a good mechanic without compromising the efficacy of the unit.

I'm still curious as to whether running a generator 24/7 is cost effective here. Anyone know for sure? I'd have to assume that, if it was, most people would switch over to them! Sounds more like the business in question has had their WAPA cut for non payment ...

There must be a spreadsheet or something similar to make the calculations on the cost of running a generator.

I'd be interested to know...I have a 100 kw monster I could easily run 24/7.

I heard over the weekend that Gannett will be closing shortly. Might be just another rumor by probably not.

There must be a spreadsheet or something similar to make the calculations on the cost of running a generator.

I'd be interested to know...I have a 100 kw monster I could easily run 24/7.

Here are our approximate numbers:
Our 15Kw generator burns 12.5 gallons of diesel per day. At $4.75/gallon*, that's about $59/day.
Our average WAPA usage is 140 KwHr/day**. At $0.51/KwHr, that's about $71/day.

So in fuel costs alone, it would be cheaper to run the generator than to use WAPA, but the down sides of running the generator are:
- More noise and fumes
- More fuel delivery
- More maintenance on generator (eg: oil change every 12.5 days instead of every 5 years with stand-by usage)
- Generator cannot handle the peak loads of the house, only the average loads.

* $4.75/gallon is for fuel on STX. Includes delivery fee.
** 140 KwHr/day is for 4 bedroom vacation rental villa + caretaker's apartment

Ouch STXBob, your WAPA bill is $2100/month for a residence!
I could see a generator making financial sense for a business with WAPA bills over $10k/month.
A 100kw monster I'm guessing burns 2gal/hr, or $240/day or $7200/mo.

There must be a spreadsheet or something similar to make the calculations on the cost of running a generator.

I'd be interested to know...I have a 100 kw monster I could easily run 24/7.

Here are our approximate numbers:
Our 15Kw generator burns 12.5 gallons of diesel per day. At $4.75/gallon*, that's about $59/day.
Our average WAPA usage is 140 KwHr/day**. At $0.51/KwHr, that's about $71/day.

So in fuel costs alone, it would be cheaper to run the generator than to use WAPA, but the down sides of running the generator are:
- More noise and fumes
- More fuel delivery
- More maintenance on generator (eg: oil change every 12.5 days instead of every 5 years with stand-by usage)
- Generator cannot handle the peak loads of the house, only the average loads.

* $4.75/gallon is for fuel on STX. Includes delivery fee.
** 140 KwHr/day is for 4 bedroom vacation rental villa + caretaker's apartment

140 k/wHr per day is a RIDICULOUS amount of usage! There is no reason to consume that amount of power!

OK, it's a 4 bedroom vacation rental villa + caretaker's apartment but still...that's crazy!

For comparison, last month I used only 123 k/wHr. in a 1 BR condo. I don't run the a/c, only fans, and the tv/sound system + computer are used in the evening. It's possible to conserve energy.

But surely STXBob must pass the cost onto the vacationers using the villa........

I've heard of a few large businesses on St. Croix that have decided to generate their own power and not consume WAPA's.

There has been a concern that with these large consumers coming off the WAPA grid, it will thus drive up the cost for everyone else. I understand that point of view, but I'm not too sure I agree with it 100%.

Vacation Villas and the visitors that occupy them are not generally known for energy conservation. Not that the Villa owners don't try.
No matter what signs you may have in the rental or what you tell them, they will leave the A/C on 24/7 (in each bedroom) with doors open, flush toilets at every use, take long, hot water showers, use every single clean towel and sheet set, do they own personal laundry numerous times during the stay (not the villas linens and towels tho) leave TV's, and other electronic equipment on, etc. Then you have the expense of the pool, hot tubs, etc. on top of all that so I can easliy see a WAPA bill I would faint over upon opening.

I have a large diesel generator that runs my upstairs and the downstair apt. rental in event of WAPA outages, if necessary but I much
prefer the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind, the birds, crickets and coquis and hearing the waves break on the rocks in the bay below than listening to sounds of a generator running and having to refuel it muliple times. After 4 days of listening to a generator I am having full on PTSD.

Blended Veggie Oil is usually cheaper than diesel fuel, especially if you're getting it free and filtering it yourself.

I see a lot of places being seriously hurt by WAPA, but also using inefficient lighting, extension cords as wiring, old out of date switches, leaving things on when they shouldn't be, etc.

I heard over the weekend that Gannett will be closing shortly. Might be just another rumor by probably not.

Not a rumor. They have a sign on the door GOING OUT OB BUSINESS. Everything is 30% off cash only. Still have a very good selectio n of hardware and tools so if you are looking for a deal pay them a business.

Where is that?

Ouch STXBob, your WAPA bill is $2100/month for a residence!
I could see a generator making financial sense for a business with WAPA bills over $10k/month.
A 100kw monster I'm guessing burns 2gal/hr, or $240/day or $7200/mo.

This may be true but I'd only have to run my generator for approx. 10 hours/day for 5.5 days per week, so my worst case is...

$4.75 x 20 gallons/day (2 gallons/hour x 10 hours) = $95.00
$95/day x 5.5 days/week = $522.50
4 weeks/month = $2090

My WAPA bill hovers around $2000/month. So, when generator maintenance is added to the equation, it is not yet economically feasible to run my business solely on the generator.

BUT IT'S GETTING AWFULLY CLOSE!!!!!

The Divi generator roars constantly-No WAPA for them. The neighbors have complained for years.