Urgent Need to Address Puerto Rico’s Energy Crisis

En español

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s visit to Puerto Rico following the major blackout in the archipelago during New Year’s Eve underscores the importance of collaborating with the new Puerto Rican Governor, Jenniffer González Colón, to support Puerto Rico’s energy transformation.

“We recognize that the Governor’s priority is to stabilize the electric grid in Puerto Rico,” said Dan Whittle, Associate Vice President, Resilient Caribbean at Environmental Defense Fund. “As evidenced by the community-based clean energy project in the island municipality of Culebra, Environmental Defense Fund remains committed to continue working with communities in Puerto Rico, and to be a resource for the new administration as it moves away from fossil fuels to provide Puerto Rican families with clean and affordable energy through the use of renewable sources.” 

The energy crisis facing Puerto Rico has serious consequences that affect the environment and the quality of life of all Puerto Ricans. Secretary Granholm’s fruitful work is saving lives. The U.S. Department of Energy has provided Puerto Rico with resources to modernize its electrical grid and will enable projects to improve access to clean energy across the archipelago. According to Law 17, Public Energy Policy, Puerto Rico must source 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2050. 

“Puerto Rico’s communities have the right to quality, uninterrupted electric service,” said Abimarie Otaño Cruz, Senior Manager, Energy Transition at Environmental Defense Fund. “We urge the Committee appointed by Governor González Colón to expedite plans to modernize the archipelago’s electric grid.”

EDF seeks to identify effective and equitable energy solutions that can bring clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to the communities of Puerto Rico, and can meet the daily needs of their families making the island more resilient to climate change. In particular, the organization's work focuses on promoting a community-driven solar and storage project on the island municipality of Culebra, and on supporting a variety of organizations that are driving systemic change in Puerto's electrical grid. EDF approaches this work holistically, leveraging our technical expertise, sustainable financing tools and energy reform experience to help develop long-term solutions to the territory’s energy crisis. 

For more information, visit www.edf.org/PuertoRico. 

                                                                                                 ###

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With offices in the United States, China, Mexico, United Kingdom and Indonesia, EDF’s 750 scientists, economists, attorneys – and our partners and allies – work in 26 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and our Energy Program blog.