Redirected funds in Puerto Rico leave solar plans in the dark as hurricane season looms

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has diverted $365 million earmarked for rooftop solar systems in Puerto Rico to general grid repairs, drawing backlash from advocates and lawmakers as the island braces for a potentially severe hurricane season.

Dánica Coto reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

The Biden-era solar initiative planned to install battery-backed solar power at clinics and public housing, but the DOE has now redirected the funds to upgrade Puerto Rico’s fragile electric grid.
Critics, including Rep. Nydia Velázquez and solar advocates, argue the change abandons vulnerable communities and slows the shift to renewable energy just days before hurricane season begins.
The DOE says the new use of funds will target infrastructure upgrades like vegetation clearing and power flow improvements, but skeptics note $16 billion in unspent Federal Emergency Management Agency grid funds already exist.

Key quote:

“Pretending that reallocating these funds will make any immediate difference on the stability of the electric grid, when the grid already has an $18 billion allocation, is just a way to distract from the real consequences of their decision. Puerto Rico deserves better.”

— Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation

Why this matters:

Puerto Rico’s electric grid remains unstable nearly eight years after Hurricane Maria, with frequent blackouts and mounting frustration among residents. The island’s reliance on fossil fuels — petroleum alone accounts for more than 60% of power generation — compounds the risk as climate-driven storms intensify. Rooftop solar, especially paired with battery storage, offers a decentralized solution that could keep power flowing at critical facilities like health clinics during outages. Yet federal investment in solar infrastructure now appears uncertain under President Trump’s administration, which has prioritized centralized energy grid upgrades over distributed renewable energy systems.

Learn more: Trump administration freezes billions in climate funds, halting clean energy progress in Puerto Rico

apnews.com

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