As we bask in the collective pride of the recent Commencement Ceremonies launching the Buccaneer Class of 2025 into the world, the future looks bright!
While the semester has drawn to a close, new beginnings are already afoot.
On Monday, May 5, 2025, we broke ground at the Research & Technology Park (RT Park) Solar Farm. The 1 acre, 423kW solar farm, built in partnership with the Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC), will power the electricity needs of the RT Park building and a portion of the farm will serve as a living lab for the newly launched Associate in Applied Science in Renewable Energy Technology (AAS RET) degree program. This project is part of RT Park’s Sustainable Practices Advancement & Renewable Knowledge (S.P.A.R.K.) Initiative, focused on building a more resilient energy future and prepare the local workforce for careers in advanced energy technologies.
S.P.A.R.K. is just one component of UVI’s overarching Energy Management initiative, the Resilient UVI Project. The Project’s goal is to promote sustainable resource use, reduce the University’s energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels by 60%, thereby reducing the University’s utility costs and carbon footprint. Part of the Resilient UVI Project is two UVI-driven, Department of the Interior (DOI) grant-funded energy projects, coordinated in conjunction with the CGTC. The first project, already underway, entails American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 energy audits and the installation of Smart Meter energy monitoring systems across 40 campus buildings. The information gathered by the Smart Meters will help us make data-driven decisions towards the achievement of our GRAND Course Resource Management objective.
Moving forward, we are inviting the wider UVI Community to join in on upcoming initiatives as we continue our momentum charting a GRAND Course towards a brighter future.
