WAPA Rates

Let's be honest. The people at WAPA are no dummies. They know quite well about all the new technologies. The problem is that they do not have the economic means to make "step" changes to large renewable facilities (solar, wind, OTEC, etc.) that will make a significant impact. They are like the home owner that does not have the means to install a $20k solar photovoltaic system.

All things in renewable space are possible. We did send a man to the moon in a craft that no one ever dreamed of. Engineers can design anything. It all comes down to the cost and schedule for deployment.

Cory,

I left you phone message. We have an idea for a hybrid system that would utilize solar thermal technology. Needs to be hybrid due to passing clouds and the need for 24 / 7 operation. See the below web site.

http://www.solarpowergroup.com/news.asp?news_id=14

Please give me a call.

Thanks,
L

Upfront costs and financing is the key to be honest.

This is close but what is ideal is an alternate "utility" that I pay a monthly bill to based on my energy used. They install the renewable energy at my house or in my neighborhood which they maintain. As long as they can do it for less than what I pay WAPA per month they will get my business, especially if they can guarantee the rates won't increase (shouldn't with renewable energy).

The utility here is taking all the risk and of course deserves a hefty profit for doing so. As long as this profit plus cost is less then or the same as WAPA then they get my business, even if it requires say a 5 year contract.

Sean

The problem is that the economics are tough if not impossible to make work without government subsidies. Most people that install the technology are on a mission to be green regardless of the cost.

This is not to say that people won't have to do something as the oil is running out.

Jim

just read in the paper that LEAC is going to be reduced by 21%, from 41 down to 32 cents, effective oct 1. so that should help out with things. also read about a bill for significant rebates on solar and wind power, hasn't passed yet, but i think it was something like 100% rebate for solar for residential. i saw it on the onepaper stx.

Cory, I think I speak for many when I say, "I share your enthusiasm and hope."

But the answer for NOW in the islands is not wide-scale deployment of an expensive (upfront) technology in what is essentially a 3rd world situation. Not yet anyway. And I must add this: IF it worked, we'd see it elsewhere already deployed on a wide scale. And "worked" is more than mechanics or numbers on an envelope. It's about funding and political will.

And "if it worked" is also about geography. As others have mentioned, hurricanes will have a say in whatever current equipment can be deployed. Wonder what the hurricane insurance on solar panels is? It's one thing to put solar and wind turbines in Germany (heavily subsidized by the Gvt) and another to ask the VI to implement them on an island which can't keep it's roads and phone service in reasonable condition.

What's needed in the short-term for the vast majority of citizens is a dependable lower-cost alternative, coupled with funding support for true alternatives (which will magically appear after we're done paying for the Iraq war and Wall St. bailout, I'm sure).

Coal burning technology can be relatively clean --if it's done right and we insist upon it. It's a compact solution for the next 15-20 years until alternative energy tech & politics improve.

Aside:
Most experts agree... we need some breakthroughs in the technology. That is where I hope they put their funding right now. Solar and Wind for example, require the production of expensive batteries which have a negative effect on the environment both in their production and disposal/recycling. It's a bit of a conundrum....if you're driving a Prius, for example, you're pretty much JUST saving gas, not the environment. And the cost of replacing those batteries will eat up your gas savings. We need some breakthroughs for wide scale affordable deployment.

Neil, great post and i mostly agree with you. While i agree that there are challenges that present themselves to a small caribbean island that some perceive as "almost" 3rd world, i dont agree that we cant be among the leaders in renewabe energy. How come Dominica, St vincent and Bonaire are doing so well? Why cant we do it? Why cant the USVI be leaders with respect to renewable energy? Funding and political will holding us back....?

A square mile filled with solar panels might not be the most economical answer, but small to medium scale projects and the incentives from the policymakers would help our island immensly. We are far behind other caribbean islands when it comes to getting on the right path by using renewables. To watch us sign a deal for 25 years to burn coal and/or Petroleum Coke and lock us into emissions and fossil fuels which no doubt will go up in price is not the right way to go for our people. It shows no concern for our environment, our health and in the long run our wallets. Geothermal, wind, ocean thermal, waste to energy, solar have many options. 25 year deal to burn coal, helps us short term in the walet ONLY. Heres a couple articles to read:

Bonaire will be 100% at end of 2009 - http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/magazine/story?id=51592

Dominica is a leader- -- http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/dominica/dominica.php?news_id=9549&start=0&category_id=31

Fantastic article-- http://www.greenislandinc.com/news/comment_oecs_elec1.htm

WAPA is close to OK a solar hot water program that would allow anyone, regardless of income or fiscal status to put a hot water on their house free of charge. Outside investors, WAPA and a bunch of lawyes are mulling this over as we speak.

"The question is: are we going to remain a region of sun, sea and sand only for the benefit of our tourism marketing; or are we up to the challenge of putting our vast natural resources to work to achieve our long-term energy security? "

Maybe when you've been here a little longer you'll understand why things that can be done, aren't done. And when you understand why the local govt is so a@@backwards let me know. But this I know with absolute certainty, its not going to change anytime soon.

who me?? 🙂 Ive been coming to the USVI my whole life, and lived on STT for 7 years, i have a pretty good idea how things are going here. Things will change when the people of the USVI want it to change. I bet now that WAPA is squeezing the life out of people, NOW they want change. I know one thing with absolute certainty as well. Im going to try my best to change things regardless of all the people who tell me otherwise and how futile it is.

Do you bring in your own materials, Cory or do you buy from local solar companies & mark it up & install it? Just curious.

Neil,
I also thought it was a great post. I also agree that the issue is not just whether the payback for an individual is 10 years... in this case we're talking about changing the power generation for an entire small town. Eventually (within 50 years), solar power is probably goiing to make sense for homes (maybe even for parts of industry). Are we there now? Probably not.

But, whether coal is the answer for the "short term" is an open question in my mind. There are most certainly health "concerns" with coal. Are they serious? I don't know... I don't really know the facts about how well coal can be made clean before burning, and during burning. I hope we can get some facts that are easily understood.

I also think that Cory makes a good point: at a certain point in time, we're just throwing good money after bad, just because nobody has the vision to see how to make the transition, or see the incentive to change. Are we there yet with any alternative energy source? I really don't know at all. I wish we had the facts to check.

These energy-economic issues are becoming more and more important.... energy is taking up more and more of our budgets. I think the answer is to finally start pressuring the media and policy makers to lay the facts out for us, and stop treating us like we're morons with 10 second attention spans. I don't think the numbers are tough to understand (I don't think anyone had trouble understanding my back of the envelope analysis of individual solar payback period, or total area required for solar cells). I think we're all forced to guess at the very basics of the issues, when if we had the basics we could more intelligently make the tradeoffs. For example, once Sailaway reported that we use 6 billion barrels of oil a year (I was able to check and confirm the number) it was much easier to understand what offshore and Alaska oil would bring us (only about 5 years worth of oil). Sure, we still might not all agree on a solution, but at least we'd cut a lot of the crap out of the discussion (ie. I heard a congressmen from Texas saying on the floor of congress a few months back: "there are literally MILLIONS of barrels of oil just sitting in the ground, waiting for us". Granted he might have made a mistake, and meant "billions"... but even a few billion barrels is nothing in light of the problem... I think he purposely didn't say "there are literally 5 years of oil just sitting in the ground").

All that to say, I think we need to keep an open mind to all suggestions, and pressure the sources for facts. If we don't get enough facts to perform a simple due diligence check, than all we can say is "we don't know enough yet to make any intelligent decision". If the news media and policy makers can spend millions on air time and staff, then they can certainly pay for someone to lay out the facts in an easy to understand manner (instead, they only cover the turning of the legislative crank.... the horse race instead of the horses).

Geez... can you tell I had too much to drink last night (it was a very nice wedding though)... what a rant... too much of a fuzzy head to just delete this...

deleted, sorry

One word...WoW

This is fantastic! No more $2000 cap for residential systems. 30%!! Combine that with the VI energy bill in committee, and that my friends has set the stage for a solar boom in the entire country and the USVI :@)

http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/03/congress-sets-stage-for-solar-boom/

I was curious to find out what the rates are in the states and I found this site:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html

Very nice summary of costs per state... thanks.

There probably will be de facto caps on how much is available each year for rebates. Currently there is a budget on how much VI Government will make available as rebates for energy efficient appliances. When the money is gone no more rebates.

Also you have to have the money up front to purchase the solar equipment before you can apply for the rebate. It took me fourteen months to get my rebate for my refrigerator/ This will make it tough for the poor to take advantage of this program.

Jim