Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

July 18, 2024                                                    202-808-6129

This week, Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, alongside local and federal partners, hosted a summit to explore impactful insights and best practices for infrastructure rebuilding and energy issues of the Virgin Islands. The summit, entitled “A Reimagined Virgin Islands,” engaged local and federal partners, and participants in conversation through panel discussion topics including, local project management challenges and timelines; federal and local government policies, processes, and challenges; and using public funding to advance energy efficiency and economies.

“Seven years ago, our community’s infrastructure was devasted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, leaving our critical infrastructure decimated. Out of devastation came the opportunity to transform our territory and rebuild our critical infrastructure in a more resilient manner with profound funding from the federal government,” said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett.  “The rebuilding summit demonstrates the crucial opportunity placed upon us particularly in light of President Biden’s declaration earlier this year, which cut cost share requirements from 10 percent (equaling at least $1.5 billion) for critical rebuilding projects approved before September 30, 2024, and completed over the next 10 years, and 5 percent otherwise. I am extremely grateful to our local and federal agencies, as well as private sector partners for participating in conversations on the issues, best practices and providing insights initiatives and scopes of work to assist with the transformational endeavor of reimagining our island.”

Panelists and moderators at the summit included:

• FEMA | USVI Recovery Office Senior Advisor Derval Wiltshire-Petersen
• FEMA | Director of the Public Assistance Division Robert Pesapane
• US Department of Energy | Senior Project Manager (GDO) Pete Gingrass
• US Department of Energy | Senior Consultant to the DOE Loan Programs Office Dan Cross-Call
• EPA | Director of Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Carmen Guerrero Pérez
• VI Office of Disaster Recovery | Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien
• VI Department of Education | Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington
• VI Department of Public Works | Commissioner Derek Gabriel
• VI Energy Office | Director Kyle Fleming
• VI Housing Finance Authority | Executive Director Eugene Jones
• Schneider Regional Medical Center | Chief Executive Officer Tina Comissiong
• Witt O’Brien’s | Associate Managing Director Alicia Barnes

The recording of the summit is available here.

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