Puerto Rico will take steps to privatize its troubled state-owned electric utility, officials announced Monday. Governor Ricardo Rosselló said plans to sell the bankrupt Puerto Rican Power Authority, or PREPA, would move the island towards a “consumer-centered model” for power as well as help Puerto Rico attain its goal of 30 percent renewable energy. The […]
As millions of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico continue to recover more than two months after Hurricane Maria hit, a new campaign aims completely rebuild the island in a sustainable manner. Operation Taino Spirit Promise is a joint effort between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, actress and activist Michelle Rodriguez and the non-profit group Taino Warriors. […]
By Julia Conley Calling on the federal government to bring its “full resources to bear” on the crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.-I) unveiled a $146 billion recovery package for the U.S. territories on Tuesday, two months after Hurricane Maria left destruction across the islands. Sanders and the […]
A remarkable collaborative effort to deploy portable solar energy systems to relieve critical areas in Puerto Rico is well underway. The “Power On Puerto Rico” project from the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a nationwide solar energy cooperative, and Amurtel, an international disaster relief nonprofit, is sending 100 off-grid Solar Outreach Systems (SOS) to the storm-battered island. […]
Just this Wednesday morning, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello sent out a tweet boasting about the island finally reaching a 50 percent power threshold after Hurricane Maria wiped out the electric grid 56 days ago. “Then ‘boom’ (a witness reported) the lights went out,” tweeted CBS News reporter David Begnaud, who has been extensively reporting […]
Whitefish Energy, the controversial energy firm repairing Puerto Rico‘s hurricane-wrecked power grid, is under fresh scrutiny for charging the island’s power authority hundreds of dollars more per hour than its linemen receive. The New York Times reported that the tiny Montana-based company—which doesn’t have many of its own employees—contracted electrical workers from Florida at rates […]
More than 80 percent of Puerto Rico was once again left without power after a main north-south transmission line failed. According to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the island was left with only 18 percent power generation on Thursday. The capital San Juan and other major cities were plunged back into darkness. As […]
By Peter Fox-Penne In addition to its many other devastating human consequences, Hurricane Maria left the island of Puerto Rico with its power grid in ruins. Power was knocked out throughout the island, with an estimated 80 percent of its transmission and distribution wires incapacitated. When hospitals and other critical users could not get backup […]
Puerto Rico‘s electric power authority (PREPA) has cancelled Whitefish Energy Holdings’ controversial $300 million contract to help rebuild the U.S. territory’s Hurricane Maria-wrecked power grid. The small Montana-based power company said it was “very disappointed” with the decision which came after Gov. Ricardo Rosselló called on PREPA to “immediately” cancel the deal. Many questions have […]