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On Wednesday, Governor Jenniffer González Colón revealed the selection of Josué Colón Ortiz as the energy czar, responsible for overseeing the energy sector and collecting data to phase out LUMA Energy as the private entity managing the island’s electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Alongside his duties as energy czar, Colón Ortiz has also been named director of the Public-Private Partnerships Authority (P3A).
In his capacity as energy czar, the engineer will guide a specialized team legally tasked with liaising with federal and state organizations. This role is aimed at advocating for the residents of Puerto Rico and ensuring that LUMA, along with any governmental contractors who do not uphold their commitments, face accountability. Legislation to secure this position’s formal recognition will be proposed in the Legislature at a later time.
Colón Ortiz, who formerly led the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) under the administration of Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, will manage the energy sector and collaborate with multiple agencies to facilitate the transition away from LUMA Energy.
Maricarmen Zapata Acosta, also an engineer, will succeed Colón Ortiz as executive director at PREPA and will participate in the Working Committee for the Energy Transformation of Puerto Rico.
On the same day, Francisco Quiñones Rivera was appointed as the leader of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DCR in Spanish), bringing along 29 years of experience in public service, mainly in the field of public safety.
Within La Fortaleza, the governor designated Hiram Torres Montalvo as secretary of public affairs and Lourdes Gómez Torres as head of the Governor’s Appointments Office.
Currently, Quiñones Rivera, the designee for DCR secretary, serves as the confidential legal advisor to the island’s public safety secretary and instructs at the Puerto Rico Police Academy, covering topics including corruption, human rights, civil rights, use of force, domestic violence, and sexual offenses. He is also an alumnus of the Citizens Academy Program from the FBI and DEA, granting him valuable connections within both federal law enforcement organizations. He has participated in the Judicial Appointments Commission of the Puerto Rico Bar Association and acted as a delegate for the Puerto Rican Judiciary Association.
He previously dedicated 12 years as a superior judge in a criminal court, managing cases related to the correctional population. His public service journey commenced in 1996 when he worked as assistant legal advisor to the governor in public safety, and he also spent a decade as assistant Prosecutor II in the Justice Department, closely collaborating with various correctional facilities.
Zapata Acosta, a licensed electrical engineer, retired from PREPA after over 30 years of dedicated service. At the time of her retirement in 2019, she served as the head of the Planning and Studies Division.
She rejoined PREPA in October 2021, contributing her significant technical and administrative expertise to advance the transformation of Puerto Rico’s electrical system. Upon her return, the Lajas native was appointed deputy executive director of operations, marking her as the first woman to attain that role at the public utility and earning her recognition as a distinguished engineer for her efforts during that time.
