Governor urges Biden to proclaim a state of emergency following blackout

From The Star Staff

Last week, Governor Jenniffer González Colón sent a correspondence to President Joe Biden requesting a federal state of emergency declaration following the blackout experienced on New Year’s Eve.

The governor noted that her appeal aims to ensure Puerto Rico does not rely solely on renewable energy sources.

“That the president bypasses the FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] and the Department of Energy processes to release the funds, the $18 billion designated for enhancing our generation and transmission systems, which have encountered significant hurdles,” stated the governor.

“It has happened more than 11-14 times, and now there will be another round in January, but the necessary funding to repair the electrical system remains undistributed,” she added. “The only funds that have been allocated are from a separate $1 billion provision approved for solar panels, and while I commend this as it has been quite effective, the $18 billion we’ve had for over seven years has yet to be released.”

“Moreover, there are federal requirements regarding specific types of energy, and at present in Puerto Rico, one cannot solely depend on natural gas generation or fossil fuel combustion, and it’s costly to establish dedicated wind or solar facilities,” González Colón remarked. “So, I hope this can lead to an understanding that Puerto Rico needs to be powered and cannot rely on a singular technology. Additionally, this will allow for a more expedited process for FEMA, and that the federal government addresses it promptly in environmental terms as well.”

Related Post