Hugo Hodge, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, has accepted an invitation to participate in the Town Hall meeting concerning the Alpine Energy Project on January 13. Crucians In Focus (CIF), in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Ratepayers Association, is sponsoring the meeting from 6-8 p.m. at Gertrude’s Restaurant. The...
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Posted in Alpine | 2 Comments »
Local Opposition To Deal Draws National Attention There’s some big money riding on this Alpine deal and investor William Koch stands to be one of the big winners if the plan goes through in its current form. And the local opposition to this deal has gained national attention. (see attached article) Alpine Energy Group...
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Posted in Alpine | 5 Comments »
The Legislature has put action on two leases for the Alpine Energy Group plant on St. Thomas on hold until more information can be gathered on the project and its potential impact. And Senate President Louis Hill has committed to holding a meeting of all parties on all sides of the project so that...
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Waste To Energy In Plain English What do you want to know about the Alpine Energy Deal? Looking for a chance to ask your questions and get answers in plain English? Crucians In Focus (CIF), in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Ratepayers Association, is sponsoring an Alpine Summit on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, from...
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Posted in Alpine | 9 Comments »
Opinions are all over the place on the Alpine Energy Group (AEG) deal but there’s one thing most can agree on – the documents outlining the agreement are long and difficult to read. As a result, we hear, people are struggling to understand what the issues really are and are getting lost in all...
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(Editors Note: The Public Services Commission will address a Motion for Reconsideration filed against the Alpine Energy Group deal at its meeting Monday, Nov. 23, at 5:30 p.m. in its St. Thomas Office, Barbel Plaza. This week’s guest editorial and the attached news release from Sen. Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg address concerns about the waste-to-energy agreement.)...
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Posted in Alpine, Guest Opinion | 7 Comments »
A Motion for Reconsideration has been filed with the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (PSC) that would halt progress on the Alpine Energy Group (AEG) deal until a thorough investigation of the impact on ratepayers is conducted. The PSC will discuss the motion at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2009, at their...
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(Editor’s Note: The Alpine Power Purchase Agreements for St. Thomas and St. Croix are attached at the end of this document at no charge for your review.) In a meeting that violated the public notice provisions of the Virgin Islands Code, the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (PSC) voted to approve the agreement between the Alpine Energy...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 1 Comment »
(Editor’s Note: This article has been updated after further review of the PSC response to our inquiry about the notification of the AEG public hearings going on yesterday and today. CIF is challenging the premise of the PSC response and has updated this post to highlight the discrepancies.) Crucians In Focus (CIF) has received a response...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 16 Comments »
The entire agreement between Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and the Alpine Energy Group (AEG) may be invalid. Research into documents related to this project, including the attached testimony of WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge, Jr., reveal that the critical Request For Proposal (RFP) criterion for a non-oil based renewable energy provider was...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 7 Comments »
It seems that both the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (PSC) and the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) need a lesson in communication, transparency and the law. Both agencies appear to be deliberately making it difficult, if not impossible, for the public to be prepared for the hastily publicized hearings on the agreements with...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 9 Comments »
CIF Requests Postponement; Late Notice Raises Legal Red Flags If there was ever an issue to cause our community to cry out for transparency, this is it. The Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (PSC) will violate the 15-day advance notice provision of the Virgin Islands Code if public hearings on the Alpine Energy Group (AEG)...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 11 Comments »
The Virgin Islands Public Services Commission (PSC) has scheduled public hearings on the controversial “waste to energy” deal with the Alpine Energy Group (AEG) on October 5-6. The PSC may render a decision on the matter as early as October 6, following the end of the second day of hearings. And despite all the discussion this...
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Posted in Alpine, Energy | 9 Comments »