Puerto Rico"s federal board to expedite electric grid repairs

A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico's finances announced its intention to expedite projects aimed at repairing the island's deteriorating electric grid, which has been plagued by frequent outages. Only a fraction of the $17 billion allocated by the U.S. Congress for grid stabilization has been utilized since Hurricane Maria struck in 2017. Robert Mujica, the board's executive director, emphasized the urgency of deploying these funds to mitigate the risk of power loss for residents. Frustration among Puerto Ricans has grown, leading to calls for the cancellation of the contract with Luma Energy, the company responsible for power transmission and distribution. Despite these demands, Mujica argued against reverting to the previous system, citing the need for immediate project prioritization and the importance of federal agencies in expediting necessary approvals. Governor Pedro Pierluisi highlighted that the funds were not fully accessible until mid-2021 and noted his administration's efforts to navigate bureaucratic challenges posed by FEMA. He reported that 46% of FEMA funds have been allocated to reconstruction efforts related to Hurricane Maria, while the island continues to grapple with a high poverty rate, limiting access to alternative energy solutions like generators and solar panels. The board's recent lawsuit against amendments to the net-metering law has sparked protests, with demonstrators urging the board to withdraw the lawsuit. The amendments restrict changes to the net metering program until 2031, raising concerns about the independence of Puerto Rico's Energy Bureau and the future of renewable energy initiatives on the island.