The US House of Representatives is set to approve a bill that includes an order to the Department of Energy (DOE) to report on generation assets that can be installed in Puerto Rico within six months and operate for at least two years. The report, requested by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández, must include financing requirements for integrating renewable energy into the grid and maintaining system stability.
The DOE must also detail its collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the US Army Corps of Engineers, to support energy generation in Puerto Rico. Hernández also presented an amendment to allocate $35 million to the US Army Corps of Engineers for improvements to Puerto Rico’s drinking water system.
The amendment was marked as late by the Rules Committee. Puerto Rico has faced a crisis in its electrical system, exacerbated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, and recently experienced a water service crisis in several municipalities due to breakdowns.