Energy Resiliency and Justice in Puerto Rico

Hispanic Federation collaborates with multi-sector partners to help lead Puerto Rico toward a more just, sustainable, and human-centered energy future. Since 2017, HF has provided the funding, technical assistance, and capacity support needed to contribute towards more than 250 solar energy installations in community centers, health centers, small businesses, schools, first responder stations, and more critical large- and small-scale community sites.

Solar Access Program

The Solar Access Program was created by the U.S. Department of Energy and is funded through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund. The program will provide solar panels and battery storage systems to low-income households in Puerto Rico with zero upfront costs, as well as education and support on how to use and maintain the systems.

The Solar Access Program will provide reliable energy to some of Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable low-income communities, specifically low-income households identified by DOE as having long and frequent power outages OR low-income households that have a resident with a medical condition or disability that depends on electricity. These solar and battery storage systems will be designed to provide reliable electricity even during blackouts.

As part of the program, Hispanic Federation was selected to lead culturally and linguistically competent education, training, and consumer protection initiatives to ensure vulnerable households can best use their solar and battery systems as well as access their consumer rights in Puerto Rico.

Meet Our Solar Energy Partners

Hear from some of the groups we’ve collaborated with to expand solar energy across Puerto Rico.

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.

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Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100)

In 2022, the United States Department of Energy launched the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100) study to help the archipelago traintion to 100% renewable energy by 2050.The study is community driven, and Hispanic Federation supported the U.S. Department of Energy and Secretary Granholm by coordinating multiple community engagement tours and meetings to inform the agency’s $1 billion PR Energy Resiliency Fund, which will be used to move the archipelago toward a 100% renewable energy future by 2050.

PR100 is supported by FEMA through an interagency agreement with DOE’s Office of Electricity to address the need for resilient, reliable, and affordable energy in every city and community in Puerto Rico. The results—including data, visualizations, and models—will help Puerto Rico’s energy systems stakeholders make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and strengthen confidence in future investments and their alignment with Puerto Rico’s renewable energy goals.

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.