Most Puerto Ricans know too well what life-or-death consequences come with living without power.
The island suffered the largest blackout in U.S. history after its electrical grid in 2017. But , lasting hours and sometimes days. More than 4,000 people took to the streets in the capital of San Juan recently to protest the utility responsible, LUMA Energy.
Tired of constant power outages, more than 2,000 demonstrators shut down one of Puerto Rico鈥檚 main highways. It was last shut down during the 2019 protests that led the governor to resign.
鈥� D谩nica Coto (@danicacoto)
As they marched across a highway, Puerto Ricans chanted and held up signs calling for LUMA Energy to 鈥済et out and go to hell鈥� in Spanish.
The private utility company took over the island鈥檚 transmission and power distribution back in June. It鈥檚 currently partnered with PREPA, Puerto Rico鈥檚 Electric Power Authority.The power crisis is one example of Puerto Rico鈥檚 long struggle for better resources and funding for its people. But some advocates say there is an opportunity for stability and change: renewable, clean energy.
Almost all of Puerto Rico鈥檚 power comes from imported fossil fuels. The government there aims to use 100 percent of renewable energy by 2050. It hopes to utilize 40 percent of renewable energy by 2025. Last September, FEMA approved more than $9 billion for Puerto Rico to rebuild its electric system and grid. But, the Biden administration will decide how that money is rolled out.
How to fund clean energy has been a topic of contention in Congress, too. After funding the Clean Electricity Performance Program in the Build Back Better Act, lawmakers scrambled to come up with alternatives to meet the administration鈥檚 goals. Biden will attend the U.N.鈥檚 climate change summit in Glasgow next week.
What could the future of clean energy look like with the right amount of money? And is it enough to combat climate change, and restore stable power to places like Puerto Rico?
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