July 27, 2006 – The Virgin Islands Energy Office has awarded The St. Croix Reform Church in Kingshill $20,000 from the Discretionary Grant Program to utilize solar lights for the parking lot and driveway. The project, recently completed, cost $25,000. The church was required to match at least 20 percent of the grant, according to a press release from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
Director of VIEO Bevan R. Smith Jr. said, "We are pleased to be able to give financial assistance to get this type of project completed. The project demonstrates to residents that solar can and does work." He added that the Energy Office would be pleased with more applications from the community for grant money.
Grants awards announced this month by the VIEO include a mini-grant to Kingshill School, which plans to build a solar battery charger for $2,000. Also recently awarded were $20,000 to Good Hope School for a solar lighting project and a grant to finish retrofitting the library at UVI with glazed windows, which will greatly reduce the cost of air-conditioning at the library.
The grant program's target population is not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and institutions. Grants are available for energy research and education, energy efficient/solar outdoor lighting and building retrofit projects.
For more information, call the VIEO at 773-1082.
