Fisheries in Puerto Rico

All along Puerto Rico’s coast, fishing associations are important economic contributors to their local communities and provide fresh, affordable seafood for families and businesses. However, the unreliable energy grid and storms often cut power to their buildings, known as fishing villages, which they rely on to refrigerate their daily catch. This spoils their seafood and exacerbates food and economic insecurity.

After Hurricane Maria, HF funded solar energy systems for five fishing villages, and during the extended blackout caused by 2022’s Hurricane Fiona, all five were able to stay powered, which allowed fishermen to store their food during the hurricane as well as continue their operation immediately after the storm.

Since 2018, HF, in collaboration with Conservación ConCiencia, a marine conservation organization, has provided rooftop solar energy to 17 fishing villages with rooftop solar energy and storage, bringing the total to 11 fishing villages that directly benefit more than 150 fisherman and provide food to dozens of restaurants and thousands of residents. These fishing villages now can depend on resilient and renewable energy and will be able to continue operating during power outages.

Restoring a Critical Community Lifeline

Hurricane Maria caused severe damage to a crucial health resource, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provide affordable and high-quality health care services to approximately 377,000 mostly low-income Puerto Rican residents each year, equivalent to 12% of the population. For many families, especially the uninsured, FQHCs are their only healthcare alternative, providing preventative, routine, and emergency care for families and individuals residing on the island.

Despite their importance, after the 2017 hurricanes, many FQHCs were rendered inoperable given the destruction to infrastructure and systems, including roofs, air conditioning, and generators, threatening the lives of thousands of families who depend on them. After the FQHC leadership shared their immediate recovery needs, HF jumped into action. The Federation invited UNICEF, Jennifer Lopez, and Alex Rodriguez to help launch a $2 million fund to support urgent infrastructure improvements in 20 health centers, including rooftop solar energy and battery systems, electrical system repairs, generator installations, roof and air conditioning system repairs, elevation of parking lots in flood zones, and communication system upgrades.

In January 2018, Hispanic Federation also partnered with The Clinton Foundation, Direct Relief, and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (formerly The Solar Foundation), to launch the Solar Saves Lives Initiative. The initiative’s primary focus was to maximize the solar energy potential of FQHCs through the installation of rooftop solar energy and battery systems. HF’s $1.8 million contribution and technical support made these installations possible in four FQHCs in Loiza, Orocovis, Patillas, and Las Piedras. Each Center received up to 800 solar panels and Tesla batteries designed to provide back-up energy in cases of electrical grid failure.

In 2022, these four FQHCs benefited from uninterrupted power despite numerous general blackouts and lowered their monthly energy costs, resulting in a combined $250,000 in potential annual savings. The installation of the systems also reduces oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. With the energy levels required to operate the FQHCs, these systems prevent 2.4 million pounds of CO2 from entering the environment, the equivalent of planting 3,500 trees.