NYC Gazette

Washington D.C.— On June 5, 2023, Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sent a bicameral letter signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) calling on the agency to redirect disaster recovery funds to invest in renewable energy technologies in Puerto Rico.

In recent years, hurricanes like María and Fiona have devastated Puerto Rico’s outdated fossil- fuel grid, leaving millions of families without power for weeks or months and contributing to additional deaths post-disaster. In the aftermath of these storms, FEMA has focused their disaster response efforts on rebuilding the already failing Puerto Rican power grid.

In the letter, the lawmakers call on the agency to invest in renewable technologies, including solar and microgrids, to improve the ailing power grid and build a more resilient and sustainable future on the island.

“FEMA has an opportunity to fix this cycle of destruction and energy injustice by directing disaster funds toward rebuilding a truly climate-resilient, equitable and renewable energy system,” wrote the lawmakers. “Because Puerto Rico will continue to experience climate-fueled disasters and other climate emergency impacts, it is imperative FEMA focus on opportunities to fund resilient, distributed renewable energy and microgrid projects rather than doubling down on a centralized power system that continues to fail communities across Puerto Rico.”

Currently, FEMA only considers renewable energy resources as a source of back-up power for when the grid inevitably fails. Recent Programmatic Environmental Assessments conducted by FEMA to evaluate the use of disaster funds have only focused on rebuilding the existing grid in Puerto Rico.

With FEMA set to spend $12 billion in funds to modernize the Puerto Rican power grid, the lawmakers argue that the agency could more efficiently spend disaster funds by investing in renewables. In the letter, the lawmakers also stress the negative impact that rebuilding the existing power grid could have on overburdened environmental justice communities and fragile ecosystems.

“FEMA could much more effectively spend disaster funds in Puerto Rico by focusing on distributed renewable energy systems as principal sources of electric power,” they wrote. “These alternatives can provide more reliable and less expensive electricity, all without continuing to rely on Puerto Rico’s fossil-fuel, fragile and costly centralized grid.”

Joining Reps. Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez are Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (D-NY), Greg Casar (D-TX), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) also signed the letter.

“Puerto Ricans are demanding renewable, resilient energy and FEMA needs to lead the way,” said Augusta Wilson, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “With every hurricane, the archipelago’s brittle, fossil fuel-dependent grid collapses and leaves millions of people without life-saving power. FEMA has a chance to save lives by covering rooftops with solar panels and building a distributed renewable energy grid that can weather climate chaos.”

“FEMA is legally required to use the funds for climate-resilient purposes. If FEMA had done an EIS in the first place and incorporated the alternative of distributed renewable energy through rooftop solar and battery storage, it would have concluded that this is the most resilient option for Puerto Rico. The electric grid is a hurricane away from total decimation. Puerto Rico needs clean, resilient, affordable, and reliable energy now,”- Laura Arroyo, senior attorney at Earthjustice.

“Today Puerto Rico’s centralized fossil fuel based electric system is as vulnerable as ever.  Since 2018, FEMA has had the opportunity to improve resiliency conditions in Puerto Rico’s energy sector by investing assigned federal funds in the deployment of rooftop solar and storage. This alternative, already adopted by many communities, residents, and businesses, has proven to provide invaluable security amid more frequent and prolonged grid interruptions. Given that Puerto Rico will continue to face increasing climate change impacts, FEMA cannot continue to waste time, money and efforts on perpetuating an obsolete and unreliable centralized fossil fuel system.”- Ingrid M. Vila Biaggi, President and Co-founder of CAMBIO.

“In the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Fiona, U.S. islands remain ill equipped, vulnerable, and severely under prepared for the next, stronger storm. Incoming federal funds must be spent in ways that address islands’ climate resilient goals, including transitions to renewable energy systems. Puerto Rico, and all U.S. islands, need local, independent, reliable, and affordable energy generation and community-based distribution systems that are responsive to local needs after natural disasters. Because of their unique geography and populations, islands are the ideal place for renewable energy technologies and innovations. Redirecting disaster recovery funds to invest in renewable energy technologies in Puerto Rico is one tangible action FEMA can take to develop their islands’ capacities, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and enable Puerto Rico to become energy independent and resilient in the face of climate change. The Climate Strong Islands Network (CSIN) applauds Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for their action and attention on this important issue and urges FEMA to redirect disaster recovery funds to invest in essential renewable energy technologies in Puerto Rico.”- Climate Strong Islands Network

“As we look towards a future powered by renewable energy, it is crucial that we ensure that Puerto Rico is not left behind. While the use of fossil fuels in the 20th century allowed for electrification in Puerto Rico, it also led to severe air pollution that has negatively impacted the health of communities living close to power plants. The recent devastation of our electric system, caused by hurricanes, has further highlighted the urgent need to shift towards a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. We can not only bring our energy infrastructure into the 21st century, but also ensure that our citizens are not left without power during times of crisis.”- Amy Orta, Advocacy Coordinator, University of Puerto Rico Resiliency Law Center
 
A PDF of the letter is online here. 

Original source can be found here.