Restoring and hardening Puerto Rico’s energy grid remains a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, with over $12 billion in Hurricane Maria recovery funding dedicated to building a more resilient and sustainable grid and providing access to good quality jobs. In February 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE), HUD, the Department of Homeland Security (which includes FEMA), and the Puerto Rico government signed a memorandum of understanding to maximize federal investments and accelerate work to strengthen the grid. This agreement kickstarted the
Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transition to 100% Renewable (PR100) Study, financed with Hurricane Maria recovery funds and with the technical support of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and five other national laboratories. PR100 is a community-driven roadmap to help Puerto Rico meet its target of 100% renewable electricity by 2050 and increase energy resilience and affordability. In January 2023, DOE and FEMA released the PR100
one-year progress report and
hosted a webinar in which Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi outlined their shared commitment to building resilient infrastructure and creating clean energy solutions. And in March 2023, Secretary Granholm conducted her fourth visit to Puerto Rico, as part of the PR100 Community Engagement Tour.
In October 2022, President Biden committed to deploying more resources from DOE and other federal agencies to expedite the transformation of Puerto Rico’s energy system. To facilitate this effort, he tasked Secretary Granholm to lead the
Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team, which includes DOE, HUD, FEMA, the Department of Agriculture, EPA, and Department of Commerce, working in collaboration with Fortaleza, the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency (COR3), Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, LUMA Energy, Genera PR, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, and other stakeholders.
With $1 billion from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, DOE established the
Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund for residential rooftop solar deployment, energy resilience, non-profit partnerships, and clean energy workforce training. DOE expects to announce a formal request for proposals in summer 2023 with the goal of rapidly deploying residential rooftop solar and storage for vulnerable households, including individuals with disabilities. In support of Puerto Rico’s transition to renewable energy, DOE selected Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña in Utuado, in partnership with Fundación Borincana and Pecan Street, to receive a $200,000
Inclusive Energy Innovation Prizeto facilitate rooftop solar and storage installation. DOE’s 2023
Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship will also support six recent graduates and energy professionals to work on clean energy projects at Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña, as well as the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau and LUMA Energy.