By Miles Layton
TANGIER, VIRGINIA — Leo Radkowski, vice president of engineering, at Virginia-based A&N Electric Cooperative, gave a presentation to residents about projects planned to create safe fuel storage and continued fuel supply to the island.
Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality awarded the Town a $2.3 million grant that will provide funding to replace the old tanks and infrastructure with new double-walled tanks and associated infrastructure.
The grant will also fund the purchase of equipment and spare parts for Tangier’s wastewater treatment plant. Funding will also be used to install floodgates around the island in areas particularly affected by recurring flooding.
During Radkowski’s presentation, he said these improvements should be completed by the end of 2025, pending equipment lead times and winter weather conditions.
Radkowski said these projects/improvements will help preserve the island for another generation.
“The grant is focused on two areas — immediate critical infrastructure maintenance and repair issues especially related to the fuel dock, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and existing stormwater management assets,” he said. “Initial strategic planning focused on the development of approaches to enhance the condition, reliability, and sustainability of Tangier Islands infrastructure. I believe the VA-DEQ grant may be considered the ‘keystone’ for future infrastructure initiatives supporting the rejuvenation and sustainability of Tangier Island.”
Tangier will replace the old tanks and infrastructure with new double-walled tanks and associated infrastructure. The entire fuel dock infrastructure — not the dock itself — will be replaced, including installing three, 10,000-gallon double-wall storage tanks (two diesel, one non-ethanol gasoline), all new piping and new dispensing units. All old tanks will be removed, and the site will be returned to “greenfield” condition.
Radkowski said that due to the limited funds available, some difficult decisions must be made to reduce the project’s scope. For example, due to the minimal amount of kerosene sold annually, kerosene storage/supply will not be included in replacement.
The Town is providing multiple options for residents with kerosene heat to convert to new, efficient, clean, and less costly heating systems or retrofit their equipment to operate on diesel fuel.
Two resources for assistance with the new HVAC systems have been enlisted – ProjectHOMES and ETIPP. The Town, just Tuesday, received notice that they will be awarded a grant from ETIPP (Energy Transition Initiative Partnership Program). In addition to a $50,000 cash award, the Town will receive assistance from NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs) to develop a long-term clean energy plan that will mesh with IPP-2. ProjectHOMES is a non-profit that provides energy efficiency upgrades to low-income homeowners.
Additionally, activities on IPP-2 through IPP-5 are on temporary hold pending further cost development on IPP-1.
Radkowski said the grant will also fund the purchase of equipment and spare parts for Tangier’s wastewater treatment plant. Funding will also be used to install floodgates around the island in areas particularly affected by recurring flooding.
However, the original scope of the remaining four projects may be reduced as the budgeted $1.5 million for the fuel dock is projected to be inadequate and additional funds are not available. Funds may be transferred from the remaining four items. Radkowski said that’s because the estimates used for the grant were developed 2+ years ago and are below current cost projections. “We are pursuing other funding, such as ETIPP, National Coastal Resilience Fund, etc., to make up for the shortfall hopefully.”
Radkowskis said the scope of the flood/stormwater management project goes beyond the immediate repair of the existing deteriorated flood gates. The major component is to begin a long-term mitigation plan. This task will be accomplished in collaboration with some additional study funding being pursued by the Town. At this point, the Town has submitted a concept letter for funding the first step of the process — a detailed study.
Radkowski said the floodgates will replace the deteriorated facilities installed a few years ago along the “spillway” paralleling the airport runway. They are a check valve to prevent flood and tide from flowing in during normal rising tide/storm conditions but allow water to flow back out during outgoing conditions. A spill-over will be provided during extreme high tide/storm conditions.
Radkowski said the island’s eastern side — Canton Ridge — is a key component of the previously mentioned study through NCRF and will be included in the initial storm mitigation planning per IPP-5. No physical work is currently planned under this grant; however, as the project develops, that could change.
Tangier Island, Virginia 