Christensen Introduces the Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act

Dec 5, 2012 Issues: Energy, Virgin Islands Issues

(Washington, DC – December 5, 2012) – Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen has introduced the Virgin Islands Energy Crisis Relief Act, legislation aimed at providing short term federal relief to the territory in light of the escalating costs of energy.  The bill, HR 6631 seeks to subsidize the cost of fuel to the Water and Power Authority for a certain time; fund the conversion of the existing facilities to utilize liquefied natural or liquefied petroleum gas and increase the number of residents who qualify for relief through Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“The bill is aimed at providing special appropriations to certain federal programs specifically for the Virgin Islands to provide relief to WAPA and in turn the consumer in the short term as the utility and the Government implement longer term solutions,” Congresswoman Christensen said on Wednesday.  “Our current situation of ever increasing energy costs is unsustainable,” she said, “and after discussions with federal and local officials on how to best get emergency help for the territory, I have offered this bill to illustrate and emphasize what I believe short term help should look like,” she said.

The bill would provide $100 million to WAPA through the US Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities High Energy Cost Grant program to subsidize the cost of fuel to the utility.  “Those costs are passed on directly to the consumer, and it is my hope that this could provide some relief on the average bill while WAPA pursues more affordable energy solutions,” she said.  It would also provide $15 million to WAPA through the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program to fund the conversion of existing plants from fuel oil to liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. “WAPA has said that this is one of their goals, so this would facilitate the process.  The bill would also increase the number of residents that receive federal help on their utility bills by increasing those who qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  “Currently only those whose income is up to 150% above the poverty level qualify, it would increase the percentage to 300% for Virgin Islands households,” she explained.

Congresswoman Christensen said that since we are at the end of the 112th Congress, that she will have to re-introduce it in the 113th.  “However, it is important to underscore what we have been saying to the relevant federal agencies and to illustrate to federal officials that in these times, we are in dire need of unusual and uncommon remedies to bring assistance to the Virgin Islands people.”

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