(a) The Governor of the Virgin Islands shall facilitate the establishment of the “Comprehensive Energy Plan of the Virgin Islands” as required by 48 U.S.C. 1492, in conjunction with the Secretary of [the] Interior and the United States Secretary of Energy.
(b) The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority shall coordinate with the Governor the reduction of dependence on energy imports to the maximum extent feasible and the protection of power transmission and distribution lines from damage from hurricanes and shall apply for available federal grant monies to bury power transmission and distribution lines. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority shall apply for the funds for feasibility studies and project implementation authorized by 48 U.S.C. 1492 and report to the Governor and the Legislature as to any local matching funds that may be required for the federal grants.