Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands
Water and Power Authority
WAPA Celebrating 50 Years!
“A Promising Future Flowing with Powerful Ideas”
Virgin Islands
Water and Power Authority
Dedication Ceremony
Monday, October 27, 2014
10 a.m.
Remainder 3, Estate Spanish Town
St. Croix , U.S. Virgin Islands
Gregory E. Willocks
Gregory Elton Willocks began his career with the
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on June 4, 1979 as
a Laboratory Supervisor. Willocks brought to the Authority an
educational portfolio as vast as his eventual leadership
experience at WAPA. It included a bachelor’s degree in marine
biology from the University of the Virgin Islands, a bachelor’s
degree in mechanical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson
University, and a master’s degree in international
desalinization and environmental science from the University
of Michigan. He also earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the
University of Glasgow in Scotland, while on study leave from WAPA.
Throughout his tenure with the Authority, Willocks’ education and experience
led him to hold several key position, to include: Results Engineer, Desalination
Engineer, Assistant Plant Superintendent, Director of Water Production &
Distribution, Deputy Executive Director, and Assistant Executive Director. He was
instrumental in the implementation of many projects which kept the Authority on the
leading edge of electrical and water production. As Assistant Executive Director in
1989, Greg took on a leadership role during the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, to
ensure the system was quickly returned to full functioning capacity. In 2007,
Willocks played an integral role in the Authority receiving one of the first large
capacity waste heat recovery boilers at the Estate Richmond Power Plant. As WAPA’s
Chief Engineer and Director of Water Distribution at the time, Willocks recognized
the benefits of such a unit for the Authority and for the island of St. Croix.
The impact of Gregory’s distinguished achievements will be an important part
of a legacy at WAPA, of which everyone can be very proud. In recognition of his
contributions, it is with great pleasure that we name our newly commissioned
substation for our beloved Gregory Elton Willocks. His
name will be permanently affixed to this state of the art
substation recognizing, for generations to come, his career
of excellence as a leader, an engineer, and his eminent
position as a native son in our community. This well
deserved honor commemorates his many years of
dedicated service to the Virgin Islands Water and Power
Authority.
Acknowledgements
WAPA’s Team
WAPA Governing Board
Hugo V. Hodge, Jr., CPQ - Executive Director (CEO)
Gregory L. Rhymer - Chief Operating Officer
Julio A. Rhymer - Chief Financial Officer
Clinton T. Hedrington, Jr. - Director, Transmission & Distribution
Vernon Alexander - Special Projects Director
Orville James - Project Manager/Mechanical Engineer II, Special Projects
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, First Bank & Scotia Bank
Skadden Arps - Washington D.C. Law firm
Dept of Planning & Natural Resources (Permits Division)
WAPA Internal Legal, Contracts, Technical & Negotiation Teams,
Design & Construction, Production Department, Building & Grounds,
Water Distribution & All other Support Departments
The National Renewable Laboratory
Toshiba Project Team
Mark Lonkevych – Business Unit Manager
Jeff Ottaviano – Director of Project Development and Engineering
Jim Creighton – Director of Construction and Operations
John Gummel – Senior Project Manager
Jonathan Moffett – Project Manager
Main Contractor
Island Services Group, LLC.
Kimberly McCollum, President, & Morris (Moe) Anselmi, Director
Sub-Contractors
Carib Sun Energy; G-Com; J. Benton Construction;
Carlos Burgos Trucking; Big Island Bush; Antillean Engineers; Survey Services Co.;
VI Test Engineering; Geographic Consulting & Triple A Security
Special Thank You to All Local Service Providers and Vendors
Estate Spanish Town Solar Facility
Gregory E. Willocks Substation
On June 4, 2012, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority signed a 20year solar power purchase and interconnection agreement (PPA) with Toshiba
International Corporation (Toshiba) for the integration of approximately 4MW of
solar energy into St. Croix’s electrical grid. Under the PPA, Toshiba would engineer,
procure and construct a 4MW AC ground mounted photovoltaic power plant on 17
acres in Estate Spanish Town, and connect this plant directly to the new WAPA
Substation at the same location.
In May 2014, Toshiba began construction of the solar farm using Canadian
solar panels and Toshiba inverters. In July 2014, NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) purchased
the solar farm from Toshiba. This solar facility is currently designed to include
approximately 16,748 285W and 305W, photovoltaic modules connected to two
500kW and seven 630kW inverters. There are approximately 818 solar racking
structures mounted to follow the site terrain on 3,044 driven piles. The inverters are
housed in buildings to ensure they remain protected from the environment. In the
first year of production, the Est. Spanish Town Solar Facility is estimated to produce
over 8,500,000 kWhs. At 4800kWh/household, the project will provide power to
approximately 1800 households.
The photovoltaic technology installed at Est. Spanish Town is quiet, requires
no fuel and needs minimal water. It will generate enough emission-free power for
nearly 1,800 homes. Over its 20-year PPA period, Spanish Town is creating
approximately 96 direct and indirect jobs during construction and will inject
approximately $3 million into the local economy.
Like several of the other green energy initiatives that the Authority is
pursuing, this project will result in lowering energy costs for our customers. It will
generate clean, reliable solar power for delivery to
WAPA customers, and help the Virgin Islands and
St. Croix achieve our renewable energy goals for
2015.
WAPA thanks NRG and Toshiba for
partnering with us as we continue to bring
environmentally friendly options for energy
generation to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority, a public power utility whose
core purpose is to enhance the economic development and the quality of life for
people living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has completed construction, and energized,
the “Gregory E. Willocks (GEW) Substation” in Estate Spanish Town on St. Croix. In
an effort to address line loss due to the long distribution feeders, and to plan for
future growth, the Authority has upgraded the
existing Estate Richmond Substation and
commissioned the Willocks Substation, which will
serve as the distribution point for the western part
of the island as well as some areas on the eastern
end. Along with helping to decrease line loss this
new substation will also assist with improving
system reliability. The substations are linked by a
69kv transmission line, which is installed 100%
underground from Estate Richmond to the Willocks Substation. It is the first true
transmission circuit in Virgin Islands history. This transmission circuit will allow the
Authority to develop future load expansion.
The Gregory E. Willocks Substation consists of a split bus configuration on the
25kV Arc Resistant Switchgear and a Ring Bus configuration on the 69kV GIS
switchgear. The relaying controls are supported by SEL relays which utilizes DNP 3
protocol for communicating. A 96 strand fiber line between Richmond and GEW
Substation transfers all communication from digital imaging to voice over IP for
telephone communications or automation and protection of the electric system.
Additional benefits of the Willocks Substation
include:
 Enhanced system protection and automation
 Allows for shortening of Distribution Feeders
 Reduction of fault current at the Richmond
Plant, and improved system stability
 Facilitate interconnection to an Independent
Power Producer
 Establish a foundation for a transmission system on St. Croix
Acknowledgements
WAPA TEAM
WAPA Governing Board
Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. CPQ, - Executive Director, CEO
Gregory Rhymer - Chief Operating Officer
Julio Rhymer, Sr. - Chief Financial Officer
Clinton T. Hedrington, Jr. - Director, Transmission & Distribution
Kevin Smalls - Director, Plant Operations
Huston Harrigan, Jr. - Manager, T&D Substation Department
Melton Smith - Manager, T&D Design & Construction
Belgrave D. Stedman - Project Coordinator/Electrical Engineer II
Allyson Gregory - Manager, T&D System Planning
Raymond Arthur Burton - Electrical Engineer II
Cordell Jacobs - Electrical Engineer II
Dexter Hypolite - Electrical Engineer I
Marquis McGregor - Electrical Engineer I
LeCheea Smith - Electrical Engineer I
Neil Vanterpool - Manager, T&D Automation & Operations
Yauncey Milligan - Superintendent, Line Dept.
Julius Aubain - Manager, IT Dept.
Special Thank You to Supporting Staff :
Line Dept., IT, Plant Operations, Customer Services, Water Distribution & Contracts
DASHIELL Corporation
Jeff Thorsell - Senior Project Manager
Charlie Hayes - Project Engineer
Tom Luongo - Vice President Operations & Business Development
Justin Joyce - Protection Engineer
All other supporting personnel
CONTRACTORS FOR DASHIELL
James Benton - Benton Construction
Audain Brown - Fortress Electric
Dempsey Tucker (69kV) - ABB
Patrick Vivot - Vivot
Hubert Oster - Chasey Services
Quality Electric
Masters of Ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orville James, Project Manager
Mechanical Engineer II, Special Projects Department
Raymond A. Burton
Electrical Engineer, Construction Department
National Anthem & Virgin Islands March. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rising Stars Steel Orchestra
Invocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reverend, Dr. Alsender Williams
Wesleyan Holiness Church
Recognition of Special Guests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orville James/Raymond Burton
Acknowledgement of the Willocks Family. .Karl Knight, WAPA Governing Board Member
Director, Virgin Islands Energy Office
Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugo V. Hodge, Jr., Executive Director, CEO
Gerald T. Groner, Esquire, Chairman Governing Board
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
Mr. Jeff Thorcell, Project Manager
Dashiell Corporation
Mark Lonkevych, Sr. Business Unit Manager
Toshiba International Corporation
John Karam, Project Owner
NRG Energy St. Croix Asset Director
Honorable John P. deJongh Jr.
Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Musical Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rising Stars Steel Orchestra
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reverend, Dr. Alsender Williams
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Substation - H. Hodge, Jr., Governor deJongh, Delegate Christensen, Atty. Groner,
C. Hedrington, J. Thorcell, B. Stedman, M. Smith, R. Burton, & K. Knight
Solar - H. Hodge, Jr., Governor deJongh, Delegate Christensen, Atty. Groner, O. James,
V. Alexander, J. Karam, & M. Lonkevych
Facility Tours