United States Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez today announced that the recently issued $9.46 billion grant to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) can be used to build a more resilient and environmentally friendly electrical grid that simultaneously ensures Puerto Rico can be less energy import dependent and have cleaner air, according to a recent letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“In response to our letter, FEMA says Puerto Rico can use these flexible funds to build a grid that supports renewable electricity generation and storage, micro-grids, and underground transmission lines,” said Schumer and Velázquez.
“For far too long Puerto Rico has had a poorly designed electrical grid that was completely dependent on dirty and expensive fossil fuels, including coal,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “Much of that grid was destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and must be rebuilt – but the right way. More than $9 billion in FEMA funds for reconstruction of its electrical grid presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build back Puerto Rico’s electrical grid to be more sustainable, reliable, and resilient using clean and renewable energy produced right on the island. I will continue to relentlessly support Puerto Rico in its ongoing recovery from past hurricanes, earthquakes and coronavirus to make the island cleaner, greener and more resilient for years to come.”
“I welcome this response from FEMA as the reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s power grid is one of the top priorities facing the Island. Ever since Hurricanes Maria and Irma destroyed much of the grid, I’ve been a staunch advocate for harnessing clean energy in this opportunity to rebuild. Relying on fossil fuels has always had a short fuse as the climate crisis lingers and time to take meaningful action runs dry. That is why it is so important that PREPA use this funding to build a more sustainable and resilient power grid that runs on renewable energy. I will continue to provide oversight in this process and I thank Senator Schumer for his partnership and advocacy in this effort,” said Congresswoman Velázquez.
The $9.46 billion grant was awarded to PREPA after FEMA worked closely with Puerto Rican officials and PREPA to assess the catastrophic damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. While this FEMA grant is long overdue, it provides critical funding to rebuild its electrical grid, as well as some of the telecommunications, generation, and water infrastructure in a way that is clean and resilient in the event of future storms and other disasters.
Puerto Rico is in desperate need of clean and reliable energy. Currently, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, “most electricity on the island is generated from old oil-burning power plants fed by expensive imports, then transported by a fragile, decrepit delivery system. The poor design, with heavy reliance on fossil fuels, adds to high electricity costs and air pollution that harms people’s health.”
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