FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2026
CONTACT: Winston E. Smith
Territorial Campaign Manager | Plaskett-Potter Campaign
340-998-9691
[email protected]
U.S. Virgin Islands — The Plaskett-Potter campaign is calling for urgent, decisive action in response to the devastating power outage that has left the residents of St. Thomas and St. John without electricity for more than 48 hours. This crisis is not an isolated incident; it is the latest chapter in a long, painful story of energy mismanagement that the people of the Virgin Islands can no longer afford to accept.
Since coming to office, Congresswoman Plaskett has led federal efforts to support affordable reliable energy for the Virgin Islands. In 2017, she brought members of Congress to the Virgin Islands for oversight hearings after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, driving federal transparency measures across HUD, FEMA, and OMB during disaster recovery. In 2019, she called for a state of emergency for energy in the Virgin Islands and gave detailed reasons and outcomes in a public letter. Plaskett co-led in Congress the Expediting Disaster Recovery Act in 2023 to streamline oversight and reduce barriers to accountability, and in 2024 personally secured the visit of the U.S. Energy Secretary to assess WAPA’s reliability failures.
Most recently, after multiple days of power loss to St John, Congresswoman Plaskett again sent a letter to Governor Bryan asking that he request a federal state of emergency and gave potential outcomes for having that federal declaration.
This past March, Senate President Milton Potter took decisive action for Virgin Islanders suffering under WAPA’s relentless blackouts. He introduced landmark legislation to compensate residents for losses, including spoilt food and appliances destroyed by repeated power outage periods.
“It is unconscionable that this has become the norm and that we believe its unfixable,” said Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett. “Families are sitting in the dark, seniors and disabled residents are at risk, food is spoiling, businesses are shutting down, and people are getting no real answers. The frustration you all feel – we feel. While I can bring resources and make recommendations, only the local executive team has the power to execute those resources.”
“The time for half-measures and excuses is over,” said Senate President Milton E. Potter. “Our people are suffering. We have real solutions, and we are ready to implement them from day one, but the crisis in front of us right now demands action today, not tomorrow.”
The Plaskett-Potter campaign is calling on current leadership to act immediately, demanding the following actions without delay:
Transparency for the People
Virgin Islanders deserve to know what is happening and why. WAPA and the government must immediately end information blackouts and communicate regularly and clearly with the public so that families, businesses, and caregivers can plan and prepare.
Declare a State of Emergency on Energy and Request a Federal Disaster Declaration
This will unlock access to federal resources, technical expertise, and an expedited permitting process to bring temporary generation assistance to both St. Thomas and St. John.
Immediate Focus on Transmission and Distribution (T&D) System Maintenance
The federal government has tools available right now. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Section 202(c) emergency powers have been used to provide vegetation management for transmission corridors in Puerto Rico. The same approach must be applied here.
Additionally, battery systems can be procured under FEMA’s prudent replacement authority (428) or added under FEMA 406 mitigation, where project worksheets already exist for substations.
Increase Funding for the Local ECAP Program
The Energy Crisis Assistance Program, which provides critical support to elderly and disabled residents, has been capped at just $500,000 since 2011; a figure that is wholly inadequate given today’s costs and needs. That funding must be increased immediately to protect our most vulnerable neighbors.
Immediately Roll Out the Virgin Islands Resiliency Gateway
This program, designed specifically to support medically vulnerable residents by providing portable battery systems capable of powering essential appliances and medical equipment during outages, must be deployed now. People’s lives depend on it.
The Plaskett-Potter campaign urges all Virgin Islanders to visit plaskettpotter.com. This crisis demands accountability, urgency, and leadership, and the evidence of our ability to deliver all three is clear. We are the only gubernatorial campaign with a public platform, and we intend to be the administration that finally gets it done.
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