$325 Million Federal Funds for Solar and Battery Installations in Puerto Rico

The U.S. government has announced a $325 million program to fund solar and battery storage installations in Puerto Rico, in an effort to address chronic power outages on the island. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, will focus on community centers, healthcare facilities, and common areas in subsidized housing.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited Puerto Rico to make the announcement, emphasizing the importance of ensuring power during emergencies beyond just households. The island has faced widespread anger over outages that leave residents in the dark, with some unable to afford generators and others reliant on electricity for medical needs like oxygen and refrigerated insulin.

Recent outages in towns like Santa Isabel have put a spotlight on the fragile state of Puerto Rico’s power grid, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017. The storm left some without power for up to a year and exposed the lack of investment and maintenance in the island’s Electric Power Authority.

In addition to the funding for solar and battery storage, the U.S. Department of Energy also announced an $861 million loan guarantee to build solar farms in Guayama and Salinas. The goal is to increase renewable energy generation in Puerto Rico and reduce dependency on the struggling power grid.

The situation in Puerto Rico mirrors similar challenges faced by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where chronic power outages have also been a recurring issue. The recent announcements signal a commitment from the U.S. government to address and improve the energy infrastructure in these territories, with hopes of providing more reliable and sustainable power sources for residents.