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A friend sent this to me:
"It's honestly hard to keep track of the half-baked plans that are spun and delivered to the various VI government programs and authorities for consideration. Given that one of the latest ones proposes to do one of the more non-sustainable things I can imagine in an island setting --- and is actually being seriously considered by the Port Authority --- I'd say this is good reason not to give the Port Authority yet more tax revenues (marine terminal taxes) to spend on these types of things.
The Port Authority is considering leasing 15 acres to Tibbar Energy --- a proposal that might be appropriately referred to as "Feed the Beast 2" (with "Feed the Beast 1" referring to Alpine Energy Group's now dead proposal). And the proposal appears to involve leasing another 400 acres to grow "Giant King Grass" to feed "the beast". And, they're contemplating needing even more than that 400 acres. But for now, let's look at how much energy that might theoretically produce.
Based on operating history / data for U.S. waste-to-energy projects (projects built by companies with actual experience in the industry), and information from the Giant King Grass marketing info. (VIASPACE)), each dry ton of Giant King Grass grown should be able to produce between 0.03 and 0.04 Megawatts of power. The VIASPACE website information suggests that in one years time, 400 acres should be able to produce 18,000 dry tons of Giant King Grass. Doing the math on energy production from that, 18,000 dry tons per year would only be enough to power a plant rated at between 1 and 2 Megawatts. Keep in mind that this is based on marketing information, so be assured these are optimal conditions and figures.
I'm wondering if the Port Authority ever considered leasing, or making available, even 200 acres (half of what's contemplated for this biomass project) for photovoltaic / solar companies to install ground-mounted solar arrays. (?) At about 1 Megawatt per 5 acres, based on actual solar projects, that would be about 40 Megawatts of power. If WAPA (or whomever their successor might be) would carry the power grid modernization and stabilization steps that experts have long been urging them to do along with energy storage systems, our local power costs would come down steeply, not to mention the favorable environmental benefits of producing clean energy.
Producing biofuel cost-effectively, even using the best of technologies and optimal biological / floral species, requires thousands of acres. And island settings like the USVI simply don't have the land mass to do that, and do things like produce locally grown foods cost-effectively so that food costs can come down; conserve and enhance local fresh water supplies; deploy ground and building-mounted solar arrays, which at current power costs in the VI have a payback period of only 3 years or so; etc.
I'd also love to see a listing of Tibbar Energy's, or Tibbar Construction Services, Inc.'s, already built energy projects. But I don't find that on their website. All I see are supply contract services for miscellaneous electrical services and supplies. At what point is the VI going to join the rest of the world in doing serious and credible vetting of potential contractors, and concepts?"
"So... Let's get this straight:"
"It was disclosed to the VI Water and Power Authority, and presumably also the VI Waste Management Authority, that the Vice President of Tibbar Energy, and husband of CEO Tania Tomyn Smith, was convicted of environmental crimes, bribery, RICO crimes, etc. etc., and went to prison for such. AND, now this company is leasing Port Authority land on the shores of the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands."
Posted : April 5, 2014 7:03 pm
Message Removed: Please revisit board rules.
Posted : April 5, 2014 10:39 pm
Topic starter
Message Removed: Please revisit board rules.
Posted : April 6, 2014 12:40 am
You numbers don't make any sense
It would be nice if they could/would publish a Mass/Energy balance to check the numbers
Posted : April 6, 2014 1:18 am
http://www.ticklethewire.com/2013/10/21/stejskal-the-hole-in-the-truck-gang/
This is Tomyn-Smith, The CEO, her husband, is who is chronicled here.
Posted : April 6, 2014 11:47 am
Topic starter
Not my numbers. The info came from a friend that is an engineer.
Posted : April 6, 2014 12:32 pm
Meanwhile, STX has hit the 5 MW limit for net metering. So no more net metering permits for the tax paying residents and business owners here on STX. Yet let's allow outside convicts open their renewable energy biz here and take away from solar / wind vendors.
Posted : April 6, 2014 1:39 pm
Topic starter
It just would be wonderful IF our Gov. Officials and Legislature did thorough background checks and at least went with companies that actually had prior experience, expertise and proven track records (as opposed to just the criminal records) in in the bill of goods that we get sold. This so reminds me of Alpine's WTE deal that Hodge/WAPA and Cornwall/WMA tried to sell us down the road for, not too long ago. Hope it does work out for the best for STX but not going to hold my breath here.
Posted : April 6, 2014 5:42 pm
Isn't the primary source of fuel trash, with th grass to fill in??
Posted : April 6, 2014 7:07 pm
Your engineer friend might want to check his/her numbers
Not saying that its a good deal or not, but if the numbers you've listed are correct the plant wont produce anywhere near what you've stated
Posted : April 7, 2014 3:28 am
Message Remove: Please revisit board rules.
Posted : April 7, 2014 9:23 am
Meanwhile, STX has hit the 5 MW limit for net metering. So no more net metering permits for the tax paying residents and business owners here on STX. Yet let's allow outside convicts open their renewable energy biz here and take away from solar / wind vendors.
Bruno, not according to the St. Croix Source! http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2014/04/05/net-metering-nears-cap-st-croix
WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge gave the Source Friday following his testimony to the V.I. Senate’s Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, at which he told lawmakers the cap on St. Croix was “about four or 4.1 megawatts of the five."
The news came in response to concerns the Source was hearing from people involved in the solar industry that the cap may already have been reached. If that's true, people who sell and install alternative energy systems will lose a valuable incentive for marketing their services.
Posted : April 7, 2014 10:14 am
At DPNR on Friday, the total amount of on line( connected to the grid) , plus permits in place and applications totaled 5.6MW. Some of the permits were older then one year old. They will come off that 5.6 figure. Perhaps some applications will be returned, I don't know. What I do know, being in the biz for 31 yrs and at DPNR one or more times per week, is that we did hit the cap for Stx. It is still undecided if more will be added to STX grid or not. Lots of noice out right now. Senators need to stop the larger solar projects slated for this island, which will only benefit WAPA, and allow residents and business owners the opportunity to benefit.
Posted : April 7, 2014 10:55 am
I'm not sure why it matters if we have hit the 5 MW cap. Does that mean folks can't install panels at all anymore? Or does it just mean that those that install panels can't net meter? Why is net metering important? I'm confused. Bruno?
Posted : April 7, 2014 12:16 pm
Topic starter
For some reason, I can't PU radio station 93.5AM
Any other options to be able to listen in to this?
Sorry disregard the above - I see it's FM! My bad.
Posted : April 7, 2014 1:11 pm
They should be streaming online... search on Virgin Island Radio Stations... I've done that on occasion. 8)
I'm sure you'll see some posting afterwards (or during!) and see what was heard.
Posted : April 7, 2014 1:13 pm
Just heard on the station that Tibbar is coming in on Thursday, not today...
Posted : April 7, 2014 1:17 pm
Net metering is using the grid, if you will, as your source of storing access electricity. At night time when there is no sun making power from your panels, you pull you credit from the day from WAPA at one to one rate, otherwise you will need batteries. Using batteries instead of grid-tied is called off grid. There is no limit to off grid other then the size check that can be written. Hope that helps.
Posted : April 7, 2014 5:04 pm
Right you are Bruno and it works great!
I personally don't understand why more people don't take advantage of solar in the VI.
I would not subscribe to the technology anywhere else on the globe but it makes financial sense here where we pay .53KWH.
We have paid for our system in a little over two years, including the federal tax credit and we are loving a $6.00 WAPA..
Posted : April 7, 2014 8:52 pm
Topic starter
For those of you who may be able to listen / call in to the radio on Thursday...
A question or two or three, perchance for Tibbar on Thursday radio (93.5 FM, not sure what time)
1. Their Dec. 12, 2013 presentation shows that side work had begun prior to approval of their CZM permit, which didn't occur until March 2014. Would they like to explain that?
2. About that September 2013 Biomass article mentioned in that presentation also.. It appears that subscribers who follow the Biomass industry expressed only skepticism about the project, including "Who would fund it". Who in fact is funding this project (specifically).?
3. We (the public) have not had an opportunity to review the terms of the power purchase agreement with WAPA, the lease agreement with the Port Authority, nor any agreements struck with the VI's Waste Management Authority. Would Tibbar please provide us with copies of those? And/or any other source???
Seems like everyone is looking for their "golden parachute" with these deals.
Posted : April 8, 2014 12:25 am
I was happy to hear about an alternative solution to our current WAPA crisis, and was also excited to see the actual fields growing the King Cane Grass on the South Shore here on St. Croix. It appears we have lots of empty space that can be used here, they've already planted where nobody else has bothered to, and their grass is thriving.
This works in many places around the world, perhaps we should wait before we make judgements?
Posted : April 8, 2014 1:02 am
they are also going to provide the Dept of Agriculture feed for animals they deal with, as well as a few other beneficial things for the local community.
I welcome them.
*note, they promised 120,000lbs of hay a year to my horse rescue, so I'm not impartial here.
Posted : April 8, 2014 2:27 pm
King Grass was quarantined in Hawaii. Has it been approved for use in our agricultural zone by the USDA?
Posted : April 11, 2014 7:14 pm
Topic starter
Do you have a link to the King Grass quarintine in HI?
Anyone hear the radio talk show on Thursday re:Tibbar?
Posted : April 12, 2014 1:38 am
All plant imports are quarantined in Hawaii. The quarantines are to examine for pests and disease.
WALNUT, Calif., March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTCQB: VSPC) today announced that Giant King Grass has been released from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Quarantine Plant Facility in Honolulu. Hawaii has the strictest plant import restrictions in the United States. Hawaii requires a 12 month quarantine to allow plant inspection officials to observe the plant. Giant King Grass was determined to be pest and disease free and was successfully released from quarantine on March 14, 2014.
Posted : April 12, 2014 10:18 am
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