Above: Spanish Town Estate Solar Project

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Toshiba International Corporation has sold its four-megawatt Spanish Town Estate Solar Project in St Croix to NRG Energy.

The facility, which began construction in April, will eventually power 1,500 homes in St Croix wiht solar energy and create around 100 jobs in construction and operations, according to the company.

NRG has partnered with the local power authority in St Croix, WAPA, to provide solar energy on the island for the next 25 years.

NRG, one of the largest solar companies in the United States, will be the sole owner of the facility, while Toshiba will continue to serve as lead on engineering, procuring and construction.

“We are extremely excited to partner with WAPA in paving the road for the development of this and other renewable energy capacity on St. Croix,” said Tom Doyle, president of NRG’s renewable energy business unit. “Not only is solar cost-competitive here, but it provides clean, emission-free power, helping to ensure that the pristine beauty of the island is not compromised by the economic costs and  detrimental effects of importing and using fossil fuels.”

In a statement, Mark Lonkevych, business unit manager for Toshiba International Corporation, said the company was “pleased to be partnering with an industry-leading renewable energy company like NRG.”