On December 31st, 2024 Puerto Ricans rang in the new year in darkness. Nearly 90% of Luma Energy’s utility customers experienced a blackout which spread throughout the island (NYT 1). This instance is only a small part of the larger ongoing power grid crisis in Puerto Rico (PR).
Puerto Rico’s weak energy grid has repeatedly suffered damage from natural disasters. As they await funding from FEMA, Puerto Rican authorities struggle to balance short-term repairs with long-term reconstruction projects. Hurricanes Maria in 2017 and Fiona in 2022 significantly weakened the island’s power grid, with additional storms exacerbating existing issues (NBC). Regular blackouts disrupt daily life and jeopardize essential services like hospitals and schools, underscoring the urgent need for a stable energy grid (AP 1). In addition to unstable electricity, the island pays high energy prices. With imported fossil fuels generating 94% of Puerto Rico’s electricity, these costs are higher than in any mainland U.S. state (EIA).
While plans have been made in the past for Puerto Rico to shift toward self-sustainable renewable energy sources, progress has been slow. Under the 2019 Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act, Puerto Rico “must obtain 40% of its electricity supply from renewable resources by 2025, 60% by 2040, and 100% by 2050” (EIA). These benchmarks are currently far from being met, with only 6% of the electricity supply coming from renewables in 2022 (EIA). The U.S. Department of Energy’s PR100 Study maintains that 100% renewable energy in 2050 remains possible, provided that “significant system upgrades and investments—guided by meaningful community participation” are implemented (PR100).
With the inauguration of Jennifer González Colón as Governor of Puerto Rico on January 2nd, 2025, the future of the island’s power grid will depend on the policy decisions and implementation of the new administration. González Colón has appointed an “energy czar,” Josué Colón, as promised during her campaign (AP 1). With commitments to unlock federal funds and build renewable energy sources, only time will tell how much progress Puerto Rico makes toward a 100% renewable energy system (NBC). González Colón and her energy czar plan to focus on the “modernization of the [electrical] grid through diversified generation, including natural gas” (El Nuevo Dia).
Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed an executive order establishing the Office of the Energy Czar (San Juan Daily Star). This office will oversee relations with both Luma Energy and Genera PR, two private operators managing power in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the energy czar will be responsible for “leading initiatives for rebuilding and modernizing the electrical system, and acting as a coordinator and liaison between the island government, PREPA, and federal entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Energy (DOE)” (San Juan Daily Star). The formation of this office removed authority from the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, granting it the power to supersede other permitting laws and regulations, particularly in energy emergencies (San Juan Daily Star). Other aspects of González Colón’s energy plan include “supporting the construction of large-scale green energy projects” and “an aggressive implementation plan to identify and overcome existing obstacles” to mobilize federal funds (PNPPR).
Concerns about PR’s ability to shift to renewable energy have emerged following the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election (AP 2). President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, an oil and gas executive with a history of supporting fossil fuels and denying climate change, was confirmed by the Senate on February 3, 2025 (NYT 2). He is expected to further “the production of fossil fuels and [get] rid of regulations” (NPR). This stance sharply contrasts with that of former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Granholm made her final official trip to PR in January 2025, stating that “‘the ground has been set’ to improve Puerto Rico’s grid and transition to renewable energy” (NBC). Under Granholm and the Biden administration, “Puerto Rico increased its capacity to generate power from renewable energy from less than 4% to 6%” (NBC).
Puerto Rico’s energy challenges stem from natural disasters, high energy costs, and slow progress toward renewable energy. The future of the island’s power grid will depend on the implementation of policy measures and leadership actions in the coming years.
AP 1: https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-power-crisis-appointment-8b713beda3343c6d150d6746bc1b7fe1
EIA: https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=RQ
El Nuevo Dia: https://www.elnuevodia.com/english/editorial/necessary-energy-shift/
NYT 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/31/us/puerto-rico-power-blackout.html
NYT 2: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/climate/chris-wright-energy-secretary.html
PNPPR:https://pnppr-com.translate.goog/energia/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
PR100: https://pr100.gov/results
San Juan Daily Star: https://www.sanjuandailystar.com/post/executive-order-strips-preb-of-control-over-generation-tenders