Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced a $440 million investment by the Department of Energy to install solar panels and battery storage systems for 30,000-40,000 low-income households in Puerto Rico. This funding was allocated through the department’s Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) and will also support thousands of clean energy jobs, improve the island’s grid resiliency and reliability against future disasters, and help achieve Puerto Rico’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.
“Investing in solar energy provides reliable power to Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable communities all while creating local, good-paying jobs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This investment will help ensure economic development and sustainable energy initiatives are made available to Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable communities and households, while working toward 100% renewable energy. I applaud DOE’s critical investment and I will continue fighting for resources that ensure all communities receive the energy they need.”
On November 15, 2022, Senator Gillibrand co-led a letter asking that Congress provide $5 billion to DOE through emergency supplemental appropriations to provide rooftop solar and battery storage systems for low-income households and households with individuals with disabilities throughout Puerto Rico. She secured $1 billion in the FY23 appropriations bill to help launch PR-ERF.