Biden administration’s Department of Energy announced Wednesday when Puerto Rico can migrate “100% renewable energy” by 2050based on a two-year analysis of Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid Resilience and Transition to 100% Renewable Energy Study, also known as PR100.
What was recently released PR100 summary report The report claims Puerto Rico, which suffers from long and persistent power outages, can achieve a “robust, affordable, resilient and equitable energy system” powered by renewable energy by 2050. It can’t be fast or easy. ”
A few years later hurricane mariaCategory 4 storm wiped out power most of puerto rico, the island continues to suffer from rolling blackouts and high electricity bills. After the disaster, local authorities moved to privatize power grid operations. wall street journal Reported in January 2023.
Canadian-American power company Luma Energy LLC took over responsibility for the aging and neglected power grid in June 2021. Since the acquisition, the company’s CEO Wayne Stensby has said Luma underestimated the extent of the grid problem.
In 2022, Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Fiona, a Category 1 storm that left 1.5 million residents without power across the island. CNN report.
López Varona of the Center for Popular Democracy, a progressive advocacy group, told the news outlet: “The whole system is not properly managed and modernized, so we don’t know when a storm will hit.” We are in a situation where some kind of problem may arise.” A natural disaster causes the entire power grid to collapse. ”
last month, DOE stated“Natural disasters in recent memory have posed significant challenges to Puerto Rico’s power grid and the more than 3 million residents it serves.In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria disrupted Puerto Rico’s power transmission and distribution system. Parts collapsed, causing a major disaster. Just five years later, Hurricane Fiona once again caused a 100% outage of the power grid in parts of Puerto Rico for up to four weeks. , prompting the modernization of the power grid in the region. It highlights the critical need for
A recent report outlines a path for Puerto Rico to become powered entirely by “clean energy,” a goal established by the island’s legislature in 2019. Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act.
The DOE claims the transition will make Puerto Rico’s power grid more stable and more resilient to storms. Starting later this month, residents will be able to apply for the agency’s Programa Acceso Solar, or solar access program. The program is “designed to connect up to 30,000 low-income households to residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems at zero upfront costs.”
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi said modernizing the island’s power grid is one of his top priorities.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to equity-centered climate action that delivers direct and immediate benefits to those addressing the persistent and lingering effects of climate change,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “I’m here,” he said.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
