US Department of Energy Allocates $440M for Solar Installations in Puerto Rico, Aiming for Energy Resilience and Job Creation

Funding Targets Vulnerable Households and to Stimulate Job Growth, with First Installations Expected to begin in Spring 2024, Contributing to Puerto Rico's Goal of 100% Renewable Energy by 2050

The US Department of Energy has committed $440 million to equip vulnerable households in Puerto Rico with rooftop solar and battery systems, expected to lower energy costs for 30,000 to 40,000 low-income households and improve energy resilience.
The initiative aims to support the creation of thousands of local clean energy jobs and help Puerto Rico achieve its 100% renewable energy goal by 2050; first installations are projected to begin in Spring 2024.
The solar installation program is part of a larger $1 billion effort initiated by the Biden administration to enhance resilience for Puerto Rican households and create job opportunities.
Eligible beneficiaries include low-income individuals that live in areas prone to frequent and prolonged power outages, relying on electricity-dependent devices and medical equipment, such as dialysis or breathing machines.
Established nonprofits and solar companies have been chosen to disburse the funding and install the solar panels, taking advantage of existing workforces in Puerto Rico.
The move comes amid ongoing power issues in Puerto Rico, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricanes Maria and Fiona, which triggered island-wide blackouts and exacerbated the fragile condition of the region's decades-old, largely unreconstructed power grid.