The US Department of Energy (DOE) joined the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to launch a new effort to accelerate work to strengthen the island’s grid resilience and advance new initiatives to enhance Puerto Rico’s energy future. The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that promotes collaboration among federal agencies and the Commonwealth, and kickstarts the PR100 Study, government officials announced in Washington, D.C. The PR100 […]
Due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, Puerto Rico has received $35.4 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) available this fiscal year, which runs through September 2022. As part of a state-by-state breakdown of funding, the White House reported that in addition to an annual appropriation of $15.2 million for […]
Starting today, Puerto Rico-based small and mid-sized businesses will be able to request an incentive for up to $25,000 to install green energy systems through the Department of Economic Development and Commerce’s (DDEC, in Spanish) Apoyo Energético website. The registry closed on Dec. 10 with more than 70 SMEs signing up to provide services to […]
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, in Spanish) confirmed that the guidelines are ready to request the “Apoyo Energético” incentive, amounting to up to $25,000, to install sustainable energy systems on small- and mid-sized businesses. This program was developed to help SME’s stabilize their operations, as well as reduce costs and long-term energy […]
The devastation caused by Hurricane María in 2017 highlighted Puerto Rico’s “antiquated, expensive and fossil fuel-dependent” electricity grid, providing the Biden administration with an historic opportunity to transform a vital part of the island’s economy. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) recommends in a new policy brief that the administration battle entrenched interests that […]
In recent years, we have witnessed how legislation seeks to transform the electricity sector in Puerto Rico. In 2014, the Energy Transformation and RELIEF Act was approved, which for the first time created an independent regulatory entity capable of overseeing and enforcing Puerto Rico’s energy policy. Five years later, in 2019, the Public Energy Policy […]
In testimony submitted to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)’s Director of Finance Tom Sanzillo warned of “significant problems” with a recent agreement for LUMA Energy to take over transmission and distribution (T&D) of Puerto Rico’s electric power grid. The agreement that the government announced in June […]
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce opened the call for Request for Qualifications to identify potential candidates to develop the proposed $300 million Puerto Rico Ocean Technology Complex (PROTech) in Yabucoa. Economic Development Secretary Manuel Laboy unveiled the master plan for the project that also involves the Puerto Rico Land Administration. “PROTech is an […]
Looking to build two prototypes of solar microgrids that “strengthen and transform the energy system of remote and vulnerable communities,” nonprofit organizations PathStone Corp., The Solar Foundation and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, will present on June 30 and July 2, at 2 p.m., a series of webinars on the program. Microgrids are […]
Island communities from the Pacific to the Caribbean are facing the climate crisis head on and uniting to share practices, resources, and identify ways to strengthen national policies and funding to support their efforts. At the second “Climate Strong Islands Dialogue” taking place in Puerto Rico this week, nonprofits, foundations, universities, and private sector discussed […]
The Center for a New Economy recently hosted members of the media to provide context and information to journalists as they prepare to cover two key events for Puerto Rico’s energy policy. First, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau will hold a public hearing in February to discuss Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) Integrated Resource […]
The Mountain Hydroelectric Co-op received a notice from the Public-Private Partnerships Authority confirming that its Hidroenergía Renace consortium will be able to submit a Request of Proposal to manage and rehabilitate the hydroelectric plants in the Lagos Dos Bocas and Caonillas lakes. On July 1, the Mountain Hydroelectric Co-op submitted the Declaration of Qualification to […]
A report released by Queremos Sol, a coalition of nonprofits, based on data from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority concluded that, with new distributed generation technology such as rooftop renewables, and increased energy efficiency, Puerto Rico could save millions of dollars. Instead, the utility has proposed investing over the next 20 years in maintaining […]
The 2019 Report Card for Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure released for the first time by the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, giving eight categories of infrastructure an overall grade of a D-. Energy received the lowest grade of “F,” meaning the system’s infrastructure is in unacceptable condition and has widespread advanced […]
The Puerto Rico Institute for a Competitive and Sustainable Economy (ICSE) Executive Director Tomás Torres moderated a panel discussion during the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) in Miami that went over the the implementation of the New Puerto Rico Energy Policy, the projected increases in the electricity rate, which could reach 10 cents per kilowatt […]
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