Above: US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh (Photo: OG)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

United States Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to facilitate the development of an energy production plant at the Bovoni landfill in St Thomas.

The project is projected to generate 815 kilowatts by converting and burning methane produced by waste at the landfill.

That amount should be enough to power 900 homes, with electricity also used to power the Mangrove Lagoon Waste Water Treatment Plant and other needs of the landfill, with excess power sold to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.

“I signed an amended Memorandum of Agreement to ensure this project moves along a proper timeframe, and all funds are efficiently spent so we can realize the fruition of this important alternative energy source,” de Jongh said.

The VI Water Management Authority has signed a contract with St Thomas-based Island Roads Corporation for the latter to build the facility.

The project is slated for completion in September, 28 months after it began.

It is being funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy in the amount of $3.01 million.

Barbados is working on a similar project at the Mangrove Pond facility.