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Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. has named Karl Knight as the new director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office. In that position, Knight will pursue the governor’s goal of reducing the territory’s fossil fuel use by 60 percent over the next 15 years.
Knight will oversee implementation of the V.I. Energy Office’s long term strategy, which is comprised of four main objectives: reducing energy costs in the territory, increasing efficiency of energy use and production, increasing fuel diversity and reliability, and promoting clean energy.
Knight replaces Bevan Smith, who will fill the position of Unit Chief in the Division of Building Permits with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. “Karl Knight’s experience in both engineering and policy matters makes him an ideal candidate to take the helm of the Virgin Islands Energy Office at a time when we are doing remarkable things in the territory to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and develop sustainable energy sources that help preserve our treasured natural environment,” de Jongh said.
Knight is a St. Croix native and graduate of Central High School. He received a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He worked as a Civil Engineer for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, providing project management and design services, before being promoted to a managerial position with responsibility for strategic planning. Knight then served as Chief Researcher for Senator Terrence Nelson during the 26th Legislature, drafting legislative initiatives and providing advisement.
In 2007, Knight left the V.I. Legislature to serve as a public policy advisor to Governor de Jongh. In that role, he acted as a Government House liaison to several executive branch departments and had active oversight of the Energy Office’s policies and initiatives. Knight serves as a member of the leadership team that spearheaded project development for the Energy Development in Islands Nations (EDIN) partnership between the U.S. Virgin Islands, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of the Interior—a project with the goal of reducing fossil fuel consumption in the Virgin Islands 60 percent by 2025.
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