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TNC USVI Festival Celebrates Coral Conservation and Clean Energy

TNC USVI and partners host Coral Conservation Festival on April 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coral Innovation Hub on St. Croix

April 08, 2026 | St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

An underwater shot of Caribbean coral reefs teeming with life.
Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem The underwater ecosystem of Caribbean coral reefs is important to the health and safety of those on land. © Jeff Yonover

Media Contacts

  • Cleveland Sam
    Director of Marketing, Caribbean
    The Nature Conservancy
    Phone: 786-384-0994

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) US Virgin Islands Program in collaboration with government agencies and community partners will host a Coral Conservation Festival on Sunday April 12th, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Coral Innovation Hub, Estate Little Princess on St Croix.

The Coral Conservation Festival is a free public immersive youth and family experience celebrating community, connection and the protection of St Croix’s natural resources.

Visitors to the festival can learn, play, explore and engage with more than 19 exhibitors as they participate in a variety of activities and tours of the Coral Innovation Hub.

During the festival, there will be an Unplugging Ceremony to mark the addition of a renewable energy system to help power The Nature Conservancy’s coral restoration facility. The ceremony takes place at 1:00 p.m. and will include remarks by dignitaries including The Honorable Tregenza A. Roach, ESQ, lieutenant governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands; Dr. Rob Brumbaugh, executive director, TNC Caribbean Division; Darren Vanterpool, VI regional manager of Banco Popular; Kyle Flemming, director, Virgin Islands Energy Office; and Jessica Ward, TNC Virgin Islands Program director. The ceremony will also include recorded remarks from Jennifer Morris, The Nature Conservancy’s chief executive officer.

An underwater shot of coral reefs in the Caribbean.
Colorful Corals Healthy reefs support marine life that are integral to the health and economy of communities on land. © Ralph Pace

“The addition of a solar energy and battery storage system to The Nature Conservancy’s Coral Innovation Hub at Estate Little Princess is remarkable in two ways. First, by pairing clean renewable energy with coral restoration, we can lead by example and share what we learn to help others adopt a nature‑positive model for reef‑restoration facilities worldwide. And second, it is a significant step toward meeting the organization’s global sustainability goal of reducing emissions across TNC’s global operational footprint,” explained Dr. Rob Brumbaugh, executive director of TNC's Caribbean Division.

“Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the new solar system is now providing more than 50% of the energy needed to power our Coral Innovation Hub on St Croix,” states Jessica Ward, TNC USVI Program director. “This reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, lowers operating costs and allows us to redirect those savings to conservation.”

This work was made possible through funding provided by Popular and Honda.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.