The Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) delegation in Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives filed a concurrent resolution demanding the immediate removal of engineer Josué A. Colón Ortiz as Energy Czar and executive director of the Public-Private Partnerships Authority (AAPP), following questions about his handling of the contracting process for Power Expectations. Concurrent Resolution 49 was authored by Rep. Adriana Gutiérrez Colón with the rest of the PIP’s House delegation, Denis Márquez Lebrón and Nelie Lebrón Robles.
The demand follows findings by the House Government Committee, on which Gutiérrez Colón and Márquez Lebrón sit, on the roughly $5.887 billion, 10-year contract to establish 400 megawatts of temporary generation. The PIP’s objections during public hearings included doubts about Colón Ortiz’s credibility, the participating companies’ capacity, controversies over the use of the Enchanted Rock name and a fraudulent signature, and the lack of essential information given to PREPA (AEE) and its then executive director.
The PIP had also questioned Colón Ortiz’s concentration of duties at the AAPP and as Energy Czar. The PIP’s Senate delegation, María de Lourdes Santiago and Adrián González Costa, filed a similar resolution. Responding to the committee’s partial report on House Resolution 42, Colón Ortiz said he respects the Legislature’s investigative powers and that documentary evidence supports his actions, stating the AAPP and Energy Czar did not administer the competitive process, evaluate proposals, select bidders or award the contract.