In August 2020, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau approved a long-term plan for the island’s electrical system that called for greater investments in renewable energy and storage. The bureau worked for months to integrate analysis from a variety of stakeholders and eventually rejected new natural gas initiatives because of their costs and logistical challenges. Yet […]
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 […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Puerto Rico Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience, or COR3, obligated more than $26.2 million in funds to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) under the Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. These funds are for the engineering and design phase to install a new combined cycle […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently obligated more than $238 million to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for costs related to 28 peaking generator units that provide power to critical facilities until the Costa Sur units in Peñuelas are back in service. The units, which typically only run when there is high demand for […]
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority spent $192 million to buy land or to develop projects that were not built or completed, according to an audit by the Puerto Rico Office of the Comptroller. The report reveals that PREPA spent $62.2 million in the cancellation of the Gasoducto del Sur natural gas pipeline project, disbursed […]
During periods of major disruption, confusion and chaos often obscure reality, vision, cause and effect, and clarity of thought. With Hurricane María, bankruptcy, global warming, governmental disintegration, and the pandemic – just to name a few – it’s not surprising that Puerto Rico has also been suffering from encumbered decision-making from antiquated leadership. With the […]
The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) announced separately over the weekend that they will begin offering expanded customer service alternatives, including scheduling appointments prior to visiting an office. PRASA Executive President Doriel Pagán-Crespo said that effective today, customers will be able to get virtual appointments […]
Federal regulators have asked the operator of a scandal-plagued Puerto Rico energy project to explain why they didn’t seek permission to build and operate a liquid natural gas terminal (LNG) adjacent to the island’s first major power project since a 2017 hurricane devastated the island’s electrical grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week […]
A lucrative contract to deliver natural gas to a Puerto Rico power generation plant was awarded through a process plagued by irregularities that provided unfair advantages to a company with limited experience on the island, according to a report co‑authored by Tom Sanzillo of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Ingrid […]
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) sent a letter to Gov. Wanda Vázquez, urging her to reconsider plans for converting Units 5 and 6 of the San Juan Power Plant from diesel to liquid natural gas (LNG)-based generation. Signed by IEEFA’s Director of Finance Tom Sanzillo, the letter was accompanied by documents […]
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 […]
A thorough and data-packed recent report on the potential impact of Puerto Rico’s PREPA debt restructuring plan proves what should be obvious: electricity prices that are already unaffordable will keep rising for the foreseeable future to pay for outstanding debt. The deal does not work for the people of Puerto Rico, will hurt economic recovery, and won’t […]
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 Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) sent a letter to Puerto Rico’s Legislative Assembly, urging representatives to reject the proposed Restructuring Support Agreement for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. In the letter, the firm also suggested the pursuit of more affordable, sustainable and transparent options for financing and managing the Commonwealth’s […]
The Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico warned of the “serious consequences” the proposal by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority creditors that seeks to impose a charge on people installing solar energy systems at their homes or businesses. The group known as SESA said the charge included in the Restructuring Support Agreement between […]
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