Image: Four new Cummins 2.5-megawatt generator sets are loaded onto a barge in Alabama on August 16, 2026, for shipment to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they will provide standby generation capacity for St. John.
St. Thomas-St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (August 26, 2026) — The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or “the Authority”), the USVI Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR), and contractor RG Engineering announces the arrival of new standby generators that will strengthen St. John’s electric system. Once installed, they will provide an additional layer of backup capacity to help maintain continuity of electric service for St. John residents and businesses
The four Cummins 2.5-megawatt generator sets, with a combined capacity of 10 megawatts, represent an $8 million investment in the Authority’s generation capacity. The units were shipped from Alabama earlier this month and arrived on Wednesday, August 26.
“ODR is pleased to support the Authority in marking this crucial step towards the larger goal of increasing grid reliability and resilience,” remarked ODR Director Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien. “The acquisition of these generators would not be possible without FEMA funding and their prioritization of the necessary approvals to ensure timely installation. The territory appreciates their continued collaboration to deliver innovative and suitable solutions to advance recovery efforts.”
Due to the size, weight and transportation requirements of the generators, their movement from the Crown Bay area to the Randolph Harley Power Plant will require specialized equipment and coordinated traffic-management measures. Temporary traffic restrictions and controlled traffic movements may be necessary along portions of the transportation route beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m.
As part of the delivery of the units, the community is asked to avoid the Crown Bay area and designated transportation route (see below) Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning, if possible. If you must travel through the area, allow extra time, follow traffic-control personnel and posted signage, and use alternate routes when directed.
Image: Route of the four new St. John generators in Crown Bay.
WAPA and its contractor, RG Engineering, are coordinating with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, Virgin Islands Police Department, and Department of Public Works to support the safe movement of the equipment and minimize impacts to the traveling public.
The transportation operation is expected to proceed continuously, including nighttime operations, if necessary, with a goal of completing unloading and transportation within approximately 24 hours, barring unforeseen circumstances or operational constraints.
With the equipment en route, WAPA is continuing the remaining steps needed to begin installation. Personnel completed load testing of the generators in May, and the air permits required for installation have been secured from the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The remaining building permits are being pursued, with construction expected to begin early September. Once construction begins, the contractor, RG Engineering, projects that installation, commissioning, testing and startup will be completed by January 2027.
“The arrival of these generators is an important milestone for St. John and a clear sign of progress. We promised results to the people of St. John earlier this year and we are intent on keeping our promise. With the equipment now arriving in the territory, we are preparing for installation and commissioning and closer to having additional generation resources available to support our customers,” said Karl Knight, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of WAPA.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. said the arrival of the generators reflects the administration’s continued support for WAPA’s efforts to strengthen the Territory’s energy infrastructure and improve service reliability.
“The arrival of these generators is another important step toward our goal of building a more reliable, efficient and resilient energy system for the Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan said. “When St. John faced serious reliability challenges earlier this year, I made clear that we needed to strengthen the system serving the island and move dedicated backup generation forward. Our administration has worked with WAPA and our federal partners to provide the support and resources needed to make that happen.
“This project is part of the broader work underway to replace aging generation, improve transmission, expand solar and battery storage, and bring more efficient energy resources onto the grid. What matters is steady progress that people can see and, more importantly, feel in the reliability of their service. These generators move us closer to that goal, and we will keep the work moving across the Territory.”