Ramón Luis Nieves, an environmental lawyer, stated that one of the worst mistakes made by the Puerto Rico government this decade was to privilege New Fortress in various matters, contributing to increased energy service costs and uncertainty for the Puerto Rican people. This comes amid controversy over a New Fortress barge carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) that remains stranded due to a lack of agreement with pilots, raising safety concerns.
Nieves criticized the government for giving New Fortress access to the San Juan dock and a large gas supply contract despite the company being in a restructuring process. He defended the role of pilots and questioned New Fortress' stance, saying they are trying to act in a way that disregards regulations. Former Consumer Representative of the Electric Energy Authority (AEE) Enid Monge described New Fortress as 'reckless' for sending the barge without notice, despite knowing the regulations.
Justo González, a former AEE director, urged the government to address the situation and streamline processes to allow a second company to enter, as permitted by the current contract.