Jenniffer González highlights the focus on stabilizing and expanding energy capacity in PR100 report

Washington, D.C. – Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón called attention to the importance of stabilizing and expanding energy capacity, in the immediate term, as highlighted by the results revealed today in an online briefing on the study of resilience of Puerto Rico's electric grid and transition to 100% renewable energy (PR100). The study is conducted by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) of the federal Department of Energy (DOE) to analyze the potential of making a transition to renewable energy on the island by 2050.

In the DOE and FEMA session, it was explained that this study is based on possible scenarios with the different sources of renewable energy – solar, offshore wind and onshore wind – and projecting in what ways and to what extent it coud be done.   The study reveals that, technically, there is the potential to reach and exceed the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050, but to achieve this there must be the reconstruction of the transmission and distribution system. Responding to questions from participants, the officials on the panel indicated that the stabilization and short-term increase of existing capacity is also necessary to allow reliable energy supply until the long term plans can be implemented. 

"The preliminary result shows that there is high potential to achieve the renewable energy goal and that the critical part is to identify which alternatives are most viable. We hope to see these options further evaluated in the second year of the study," said the Resident Commissioner.  The Congresswoman commissioner noted that in the discussion both Secretary of Energy Granholm and FEMA Administrator Criswell recognized the urgent need for short-term generation capacity to stabilize the system. "Importantly, they highlighted that the allocations I achieved of over $9.6 billion in FEMA funding and over $1.8 billion in CDBG-DR for long-term recovery are aimed at rebuilding and improving the system, with the flexibility to make use of installed capacity as a transition measure toward the ultimate goal. That does not exclude the use of one or another alternative. In the second year of the study, we expect DOE and FEMA to continue dialogue with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, industries and communities to recommend courses that comply with the Integrated Resource Plan and the requirements of the Action Plan for FEMA funds." 

The Resident Commissioner in her congressional activity related to renewable energy has promoted access to residential solar energy in addition to studying the possibility of developing offshore wind energy in federal waters adjacent to the territories of the United States. In October 2022, she was part of a bipartisan effort to ensure that Puerto Rico received $1 billion through the Department of Energy to support energy recovery in communities through a program to provide low-income families and people with disabilities with access to residential solar and storage systems. The allocation was ultimately part of the budget agreement signed last December. This initiative was highlighted by Secretary Granholm during her panel presentation, as well as by Governor Pedro Pierluisi during his speech at the panel. González Colón also obtained language in the Inflation Reduction Act (Public Law 117-169) by which the Department of the Interior is authorized to analyze the feasibility and, if so determined, to accept proposals that may arise to carry out wind energy projects in waters of federal jurisdiction adjacent to Puerto Rico and the rest of the territories. This is language similar to that of her H.R. 1689, Offshore Wind for Territories Act, which had previously been introduced. 

"Nowhere in today's report was it stated either by Secretary Granholm or Administrator Griswold that the use of natural gas for the near-term transition is to be ruled out or banned.  What the FEMA Administrator did indicate was that those resources they will provide for such generation will be for transitional use. The DOE report does indicate that there is potential to provide that renewable capacity but that short-term decisions must be carefully evaluated so that the rapid installation of both fossil fuel and renewable fuel systems — and it says so in the text, “both” — does not result in creating projects that must then close before recovering the investment.  And on that we totally agree," the congresswoman added.  

The Puerto Rico Grid Resilience  and Transition to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100)"is a two-year study led by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its team of national laboratories to comprehensively analyze pathways to transition to renewable energy, with input from the stakeholders resident in Puerto Rico.

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