Raymond James, Candidate for Senate, Organizes Discussion with Senior White House Official on Safe Restart of St. Croix Refinery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Discussion focuses on economic opportunity for St. Croix and America's energy security 

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands (October 23, 2026) - Raymond James organized a Zoom meeting with David Johnson, Director of Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, and Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council at the White House. The discussion focused on a coordinated path toward a safe and responsible restart of the St. Croix refinery. 

Participants discussed how reopening the refinery could create jobs on St. Croix and strengthen America's energy supply, along with potential federal financing opportunities to support a restart. 

"Restarting the refinery must begin with protecting the health and safety of our people," said Mr. James. St. Croix needs good jobs and lasting economic opportunity, and our residents deserve confidence that their families, neighborhoods and environment will be protected. A successful restart must earn the community's trust through clear communication, strong safeguards and accountability." 

Johnson highlighted the company's progress toward returning the facility to operation. 

"We are making meaningful progress toward a safe and responsible restart of the St. Croix refinery, with a phased restart targeted for 2027, subject to completing the necessary financing, engineering, and regulatory requirements," said Johnson. "We have advanced commercial arrangements for crude oil supply and refined product offtake, and our focus remains on bringing this important facility back into operation safely and responsibly." 

A safe restart will require continued coordination among refinery leadership and federal and territorial officials, with transparency, meaningful community input, and protection of public health central to the process.