Two island energy concerns
transformation, while the other tackles construction-environmental
conflicts in La Parguera
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On Wednesday, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón declared that she will present her first three legislative bills, including one aiming to legalize structures in the coastal La Parguera area of Lajas, which is home to one of the island’s three bioluminescent bays.
The measure for La Parguera follows an amendment made by Designated Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles to an order that had previously legalized structures in La Parguera collectively, now stipulating that each case will be reviewed independently.
“Officers and Administrative Judges are instructed, after completing the necessary procedures and adhering to the regulations set forth by the Administrative Procedure of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Rules of Procedure for Administrative Hearings of the Environmental Quality Board, to assess the relevance of this Administrative Order to the unique circumstances of each case they review and, if deemed suitable, can declare the matters concerning the provisions specified in this Administrative Order as moot,” the order states.
The La Parguera initiative seeks to settle the legal ambiguities surrounding current structures and homes in the area, where a property owned by the governor’s in-laws faced a complaint lodged with the DNER, ensuring they comply with environmental protection standards.
The other two proposals derive from suggestions made by the Committee for the Energy Transformation of Puerto Rico. The first bill sets forth a pragmatic work schedule aimed at achieving the target of 100% renewable energy production by 2050. It eliminates intermediary goals that are likely unattainable and which presently increase electricity expenses for consumers. Moreover, the timeline for prohibiting coal use has been extended to facilitate a transition away from this energy type before its eventual elimination.
Through these modifications, the dependency on fossil fuels for energy production may be appreciably reduced and ultimately eradicated. Cleaner energy alternatives, such as liquefied natural gas, which are currently overlooked due to intermediary objectives, could be implemented. This would promote the stability of the power grid and ensure adequate generation capacity to satisfy consumer needs at fair prices, according to the initiative.
The second bill proposes to revise Article 6.36 of Law 57-2014, known as the “Energy Transformation and Relief Law,” to raise the penalties that the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) can levy and to simplify the collection process. This aim is to bolster the PREB’s oversight power over its regulated entities, empowering it to impose more effective punitive measures. Additionally, the PREB would be authorized to seize any debts owed to a regulated entity by any central government agency or entity to aid in the collection of fines.
Continuing the advancements made by the Legislative Assembly back in 2016, the governor’s third proposal — the La Parguera bill — confronts the persistent legal challenges concerning existing structures and residences in the area. The bill aspires to align these structures with environmental conservation while instituting a fee framework for the utilization of public lands and waters. The revenue generated from these fees would be directed toward benefiting the environment and the La Parguera community.
