WAPA Rates versus Other Islands

That's not a new statistic and only puts two other Caribbean islands above us. The statistics looked at here are usually those comparing us with other entities under the US flag. In that respect we are Number One.

Tart, the VI logistics and constraints as it pertains to WAPA are similar to the rest of the Caribbean Islands and not the mainland USA. All the islands are mainly dependent on oil for fuel. We should be asking what is Aruba doing to get down to $0.30 per kWh versus USVI at $0.44 per kWh. The power companies on Aruba and USVI have almost the identical equipment. I'll still believe the difference is in what is paid for oil and how that is transformed into LEAC surcharge.

In any case, there is no way for a small utility that has a small grid and relies on fuel oil for 24/7 operations will ever get down to the $0.08 to $0.15 per kWh that exists in the lower 48.

How many of those other islands have a refinery on them?

i believe that in aruba they use a lot of wind. the percentage of wind used is maybe 40%

How many of those other islands have a refinery on them?

Aruba, along with its neighbor Curacao, has a huge refinery which is presently for sale. Closed in 2009, it underwent a major overhaul and I believe re-opened in December 2010.

i believe that in aruba they use a lot of wind. the percentage of wind used is maybe 40%

Aruba has 236.2 MWe of traditional (fuel oil fired) generation capacity. They use equipment that is very similar to WAPA (boilers and STG's and Gas Turbines, etc.).

http://www.webaruba.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=156

They have added 30 MWe of Wind.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/croesnagtegaal/4242025427/

Please don't let the caption of 20% under the photo fool you. This may be at the time the units are running, but you can't count on that 24 /7, like when there is no wind or it is too windy. They usually only can count on 1/3 to 1/2 capacity for generation planning. That is 15 MWe tops and maybe 10% of their average demand. And the cost (like solar) is high. This 30 MWe wind park went in for $90M. That is $3,000.00 per KWe of installed capacity (... or $6,000.00 of effective capacity). A gas turbine that runs on fuel oil is $600.00 per KWe of capacity. Paying off the initial capital cost of the wind turbine is equivalent to paying for excess fuel (LEAC), but at least the capital costs are a known number and are fixed. This is a step in the right direction. The VI should have wind mills installed on every uninhabited little island.