U.S Virgin Island's Governor de Jongh visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where he signed an agreement with Joe Garcia, Director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Minority Economic Impact and Anthony M. Babauta, Assistant Secretary for Insular affairs at the U.S. Department of Interior.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by 60% within the next 15 years by developing its abundant renewable energy resources” announced Governor John P. de Jongh, at a workshop at the NREL.

According to a NREL press release, “ This agreement calls for NREL and federal agencies to work with the U.S. virgin Islands to establish an aggressive renewable energy deployment strategy for the islands that includes transportation, electricity generation and transmission, energy efficiency and tourism and industry.

“There is no reason why the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot be the regional leader in the deployment of clean energy,” Gov. de Jongh said. “I hope this partnership with the Energy and Interior Departments and the NREL creates a synergy that will help us develop our own renewable energy resources.”

“We want to be able to showcase places like the U.S Virgin Islands, where energy costs are so high, as leaders in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions” said NREL senior vice president of commercialization and deployment Casey Proto.

The NREL press release also quotes assistant Interior Secretary, “… the joint agreement reflects the call for innovative collaboration that President Obama has been advocating for the deployment of renewable energy and green jobs across the nation.  “Secretary Salazar has made the advancement of energy security a DOE priority and I am leading the effort for the Insular Areas.”

NREL states that, “in 2009, the U.S. Virgin Islands Energy Office received $17.8 million in funding from the Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The funding supports a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects including…a 350 kilowatt solar photovoltaic panel system to supplement power for the government operated airport on St. Thomas.”