NETL officials joined U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and other Department of Energy (DOE) personnel to commemorate the installation of the first of thousands of solar and battery systems on low-income homes across Puerto Rico. DOE anticipates installing up to 3,000 systems by the end of 2024.

The work is part of the DOE Grid Deployment Office’s (GDO) Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) to support Puerto Rico’s grid resilience efforts and achieve the goal of meeting 100% of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2050.

“Through cooperative agreements with major solar installers and non-profit community groups, solar and battery storage systems are being installed on thousands of single-family households that are either located in areas that have a high percentage of very low-income households and experience frequent and prolonged power outages or contain a family member with an energy-dependent disability, such as individuals who need electric wheelchairs for mobility or those that use other electricity-dependent medical devices. A groundbreaking program of such significance and complexity could not have been implemented this effectively if not for the extraordinary efforts and teamwork of the NETL’s federal project officers, grant management specialists and contracting officers, legal counsel and GDO program staff.” said Jay Hanna, supervisor of NETL’s Infrastructure Response & State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) Program.

After Hurricane Fiona in October 2022, President Biden visited the island and committed to using the technical support of Federal agencies to support improvements to Puerto Rico’s electric grid. In December 2022, President Biden signed the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law, which included $1 billion for the establishment of the PR-ERF to drive key investments in renewable and resilient energy infrastructure in Puerto Rico for vulnerable households. GDO officially launched the program February 21, 2023.

On behalf of DOE’s GDO, NETL released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) on July 31, 2023, for up to $450 million to support residential solar and battery storage installations and offer consumer protection and education resources. In late 2023, ten entities were selected under the FOA, including major solar and battery system companies Generac and Sunnova, as well as other community groups and non-profit organizations. The first solar and battery systems were installed under these agreements in July 2024 with approximately 3,000 systems expected to be installed by the end of 2024.

“The rapid installation of solar PV and battery storage systems provides Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable households with enhanced energy resilience, reduced energy burden, and support or a clean energy workforce across the island,” said Megan Yachini, NETL portfolio lead for the PR-ERF Program.

The PR-ERF continues to expand its scale.

In July, DOE announced its intent to issue a $325 million funding opportunity for the new Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, which will improve community-level energy resilience for vulnerable populations across Puerto Rico. The funding is for additional solar and battery storage installations for community

healthcare facilities, community centers and common areas within subsidized multi-family housing properties. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration has proven its commitment to helping thousands of Puerto Rican households access affordable solar and battery storage, but households aren't the only place you need power during and after an emergency," Secretary Granholm said in a statement. “Through the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, we’re expanding solar access to community healthcare facilities and subsidized multifamily housing, helping bring resilience and safety to even more families on the Island.”

“I have the benefit of experiencing the program from two perspectives: as a Puerto Rican seeing my people getting access to this great opportunity and also having the privilege of being part of the PR-ERF DOE team I can experience directly the impact of the work that DOE is doing on the island,” said Carlos Tejera, federal project officer with NETL’s Infrastructure Response & SLTT Program.

NETL is managing both FOAs and all the resulting financial assistance agreements.

“I am excited for this new funding opportunity because it is aimed at helping even more people and communities within Puerto Rico,” said Virginia Chambers, NETL federal project officer and FOA lead.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.