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Senate nixes Tibbar grass fields lease, OKs Water Island hotel lease

By ALDETH LEWIN (Daily News Staff)
Published: December 20, 2014


ST. THOMAS - Senators at Friday's final legislative session of the 30th Legislature first approved a lease agreement with Tibbar Energy, then reconsidered the measure and struck down the agreement.

In the first vote, the lease passed with eight votes in favor and six against, with Sen. Craig Barshinger absent.

For a bill to be reconsidered after it is voted upon, a senator from the prevailing side must make a motion to reconsider. Then the roll is called again, and senators have the opportunity to change their votes.

Sen. Donald Cole called for the bill to be reconsidered, and three senators changed their votes. Senate President Shawn-Michael Malone changed his "yes" vote to a "no" vote, and Cole and Sen. Alicia Hansen changed their votes from "yes" to abstaining from the vote altogether.

The lease failed with seven against, five in favor, two abstaining and one absent.

Tibbar Energy USVI was seeking a lease from the V.I. Agriculture Department for about 232 acres of government farm land - on two parcels of land, one in Estate Lower Love and the other in Estate Adventure and Golden Grove - on which to grow Giant King Grass needed to fuel a proposed biogas power plant.

The company already has a 25-year power purchase agreement with the V.I. Water and Power Authority and is a qualified facility under the V.I. Public Services Commission.

According to testimony provided to the Senate by Tibbar president and chief executive officer Tania Tomyn, the company needs the lease approved before $100 million in financing can be secured.

Senators who voted against the lease said they worried that the operation would take critical ground water resources away from farmers who are already in the area.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/senate-nixes-tibbar-grass-fields-lease-oks-water-island-hotel-lease-1.1805875