On January 8, 2024, officials in the US Virgin Islands said that there was an islandwide power outage on St. Croix, forcing them to close government buildings and schools.
The Estate Richmond power plant experienced a loss of electricity output at approximately daybreak, according to a statement from the islands’ Water and Power Authority.
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As technicians attempted to resolve the issue, officials amended their statement in the afternoon to indicate that generation was lost once more.
In St. Croix, home to more than 41,000 people, power outages that affect the whole island have grown more frequent.
According to officials, the largest generator is inefficient and only works on diesel, while the smaller ones are older, poorly maintained, and unable to support the extra load if the larger generator breaks down.
