By the Caribbean Journal staff

BMR Energy, which was purchased by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group in 2016, has purchased a major solar farm in the Caribbean.

The St Croix facility, which was owned by NRG Energy, was damaged during Hurricane Maria last year.

The company will take over the power purchase agreement and restoration efforts at the solar farm.

The project has been running at less than 45 percent capacity for nearly a year, according to BMR.

“BMR Energy is an expert in developing clean energy – the team also acts as a long-term partner and is working to make a huge difference in the region,” said Richard Branson, founder at Virgin Group. “The world needs to find ways to introduce more resilient clean energy. The Caribbean has an abundance of clean energy sources, and BMR are taking great strides towards helping create zero-carbon energy supplies for years to come.”

The US Virgin Islands solar farm is the third market for BMR, which already has green projects in both Jamaica and Guatemala.

“Restoring the solar facility in Spanish Town, St. Croix, to full capacity generation is core to our mission of supporting clean energy infrastructure in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Bruce Levy, CEO of BMR Energy. “This acquisition is an opportunity to show how to build for stronger hurricane resiliency and offer greater value to the region. As the prolonged restoration in these hurricane-devastated areas highlights – with Puerto Rico being the most extreme example – we must remain committed to rebuilding our infrastructure right and successfully maintaining projects through long-term ownership.”

When restored to full energy-generating capacity, the solar farm will power nearly 1,600 homes on St Croix.

The company said it expects to complete the restoration by October.

— CJ

The post Richard Branson-Owned Energy Company Buys St Croix Solar Farm appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Want to live in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Caribbean?

Saint Lucia’s Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort has announced plans to build more luxury real estate on its site at the foot of the world-famous Pitons.

The new development, called the Piton Residences, is slated for completion by the end of 2020, according to a spokesperson for the property.

The five new luxury retreats, designed by Michaelis Boyd Associates, will feature either four or five bedrooms, set between the Pitons at the luxury resort.

It’s the latest real estate addition to the residential resort, which most recently launched its Beachfront Collection development, also designed by Michaelis Boyd Associates.

— CJ

The post Saint Lucia’s Sugar Beach Adding More Real Estate appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

The ultra-luxe Le Sereno St Barth is returning this November, Caribbean Journal has confirmed.

The property, which has been shuttered since last year’s Hurricane Irma, will debut a totally new look, from a reimagined restaurant to an all-new beach eatery.

In other words, it will effectively be a brand-new hotel.

The relaunch will also include a new spa, new fitness facilities and the addition of several family suites that will bring Le Sereno’s room count up to 39 rooms.

The entire “Bungalow Piscine” room category has been built from the ground up, while the resort has also built new waterfront “Grand Suite Plage Sud” rooms and a completely redesigned restaurant including a new bar, lounge and a beach restaurant extension.

Le Sereno has also added a new garden space leading up to the Grand Suite Plage rooms, while adding a new on-site retail boutique featuring “curated finds from French brands.”

The turquoise seas of Grand Cul de Sac beach.

Le Sereno also retains its three 7,000-square-foot, four-bedroom villas.

The rebuild has also been a green one — Le Sereno has added new solar panels, air conditioners with heat exchangers and LED lighting, while all of the new construction is made with sustainably sourced wood and stone, along with on-site water desalinization.

A private pool at Le Sereno.

“We are thrilled and eager to welcome back familiar faces and new guests to Le Sereno and we have been touched by the outpouring of support after Hurricane Irma,” said Samy Ghachem, managing director of Sereno Hotels, in a statement. “Le Sereno has always been known as the most stylish hotel in St. Barth, and we are pleased to raise the bar in the Caribbean yet again. Of course, our signature approach to relaxed luxury and attentive service will remain the same.”

A villa at Le Sereno.

Le Sereno’s return is part of what will be a rather exciting winter season on the French Caribbean island, as the vast majority of the island’s top five-star resorts reopen, from Le Guanahani to the return of the landmark Eden Rock St Barths the following month.

That’s not to say that a number of great places to stay are not already open in St Barth. Indeed, from the classic Le Village in St Jean to the beachfront Les Ilets de la Plage to the island’s hottest new hotel, Le Manapany, you can have a great vacation in St Barth right now. (And if you’re heading there, make sure you fly Tradewind Aviation, the island’s most stylish way to arrive).

 — CJ

The post St Barth’s Le Sereno Is Planning a Big Return appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… and recovery issues in Puerto Rico are a personal matter … , whose wife is from Puerto Rico. The couple makes frequent … plain discrimination” when comparing Puerto Rico’s disasters to those in … in particular,” Moyer says. Puerto Rican youth continue to leave the …

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