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VIRGIN ISLANDS OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY Committee of the Whole 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands PRESENTED BY: ADRIENNE L. WILLIAMS-OCTALIEN DIRECTOR April 9, 2026 TESTIMONY 2 Good Morning, Honorable Senator Milton E. Potter, Chairman of the 36th Legislature's Committee of the Whole, fellow testifiers, and the listening and viewing audience. I am Adrienne L. Williams- Octalien, Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR). Before I begin, I would like to state on the record that addressing the territory’s power generation needs is the utmost priority for the ODR, and we have made great strides toward helping the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) advance its recovery efforts. The ODR worked collaboratively with FEMA and WAPA to assess and analyze the power generation needs of the territory and develop a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of service to the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In February 2025, those efforts resulted in the final approval and obligation of two prudent replacement projects, one for the replacement of generation assets at the Randolph Harley Power Plant in St. Thomas and the other for the replacement of generation assets at the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix. After notification, the ODR’s Super Project Management Office (SPMO) immediately began working with VIWAPA to draft a joint solicitation, which strategically bundled both projects together in an effort to expedite the work and attract sufficient interest. ODR released that joint solicitation in June 2025, and in December 2025, ODR selected RG Engineering/Javelin Gramercy Ventures Joint Venture (RG) as the progressive design-builder to design and replace the power plants in both districts. The contract is in the final stages of negotiations, and we anticipate that it will be executed shortly. 3 Upon execution, RG will immediately begin the work to procure and install temporary generation at both power plants, prioritizing Randolph Harley, while concurrently advancing system studies, equipment sourcing, and designing efforts to determine the most optimal long-term generation solutions for the territory. ODR in collaboration with WAPA is in the process of identifying and sourcing generation assets for both the temporary and permanent power installations which includes a short-term plan to facilitate emergency power generation on the island of St. John . To that end, ODR and VIWAPA have proactively prepared an amendment to FEMA, which, once approved, will allow WAPA to source and procure power generation assets that can be deployed throughout the territory to support immediate generation needs. Additionally, ODR has engaged with both FEMA and DPNR to facilitate the expedited environmental approvals needed to facilitate the installation and operation of those units. Honorable Senators, we thank you for the opportunity to present testimony regarding the status of the Prudent Replacement Project. We value your time and consideration and anticipate collaborating with this body to advance our recovery efforts. I remain available to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you.