| $400 million for solar energy in Puerto Rico
$400 million for solar energy in Puerto Rico
by Mark Moran
Washington DC (UPI) Nov 3, 2023
-
The U.S Department of Energy has made $440 million available to partner with solar companies and nonprofits to equip vulnerable households in Puerto Rico with rooftop solar and battery systems.
The first allocation of money through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund is estimated to lower energy bills for between 30,000 and 40,000 low income, single-family households in Puerto Rico improve household energy resilience, and keep the lights on during extreme weather events, according to the Dept. of Energy. .
"This funding will also support thousands of local clean energy jobs, help achieve President Biden's goal of lowering energy costs for all Americans, as well as help Puerto Rico achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050," said a statement from the Department of Energy. "DOE anticipates the first installations will begin in Spring 2024."
The Biden administration touts the solar initiative as part of a $1 billion effort to create good-paying jobs and increase resilience for Puerto Rican households, many of which are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria in 2017, a storm that NOAA estimates caused $90 billion in damage to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands off Puerto Rico's eastern shore.
Prior to Maria, the most damaging storm ever to strike Puerto Rico was Hurricane Georges in 1998 which caused about $5 billion in damage.
The solar installation program comes almost a year after President Biden assigned Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to form the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team, a locally led intergovernmental task force dedicated to rebuilding the region's grid resilience and accelerating the deployment of infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power to Puerto Ricans, according to the agency.
"With this announcement, we take a critical step forward in our efforts to ensure that all Puerto Rico residents have reliable electricity, especially the most vulnerable families and communities for whom a lack of power can be life or death," Granholm said in a statement. "Plain and simple, this investment will save lives, all while providing local, good-paying jobs and advancing Puerto Rico's clean energy transition."
Residents eligible for the program include low or very low income people who live in areas that experience frequent and prolonged power outages, rely on an electric wheelchair or in-home, electricity dependent medical equipment such a dialysis or breathing machine.
The Department of Energy selected established nonprofits and solar companies with existing workforces to distribute the money and install the solar panels, batteries and other necessary infrastructure.
Artificial Intelligence Summary
Objectives: The U.S Department of Energy has made $440 million available to partner with solar companies and nonprofits to equip vulnerable households in Puerto Rico with rooftop solar and battery systems. This funding will lower energy bills for 30,000 to 40,000 low income single family households, improve household energy resilience, and keep the lights on during extreme weather events. It will also support thousands of local clean energy jobs and help Puerto Rico achieve its goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Current State of the Art and Limitations: Prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017, the most damaging storm to strike Puerto Rico was Hurricane Georges in 1998 which caused about $5 billion in damage. The solar installation program comes almost a year after President Biden assigned Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to form the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team. This task force is dedicated to rebuilding the regions grid resilience and accelerating the deployment of infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power to Puerto Ricans. Whats New in the Approach and Why it Will Succeed: The Biden administration touts the solar initiative as part of a $1 billion effort to create good paying jobs and increase resilience for Puerto Rican households, many of which are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria in 201 7. This funding is estimated to lower energy bills for between 30 000 and 40 000 low income single family households in Puerto Rico, improve household energy resilience, and keep the lights on during extreme weather events.Target Audience: The target audience of this approach is Puerto Rican households. If successful, it will lower energy bills, improve energy resilience, keep the lights on during extreme weather events, and create thousands of local clean energy jobs. Risks Involved: The risks involved in pursuing this approach include the potential for the funds to be insufficient to support the goals, difficulty in successfully installing the solar and battery systems, and difficulty in ensuring that the goals of the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team are achieved. Cost: The cost of pursuing this approach is estimated to be $400 million. Timeline: The timeline for achieving results is anticipated to begin in Spring 202 4. Success Metrics: The mid-term and final success metrics will include lower energy bills for between 30 000 and 40 000 low income single family households in Puerto Rico, improved household energy resilience, and lights kept on during extreme weather events. Score for Ability to Interest DARPA: 8/10
The MBA Prompt to a ChatGPT API
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
Free Research Preview Disclaimer:
Please be advised that ChatGPT, while a powerful tool, may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information regarding people, places, or facts. Always cross-reference and verify information independently before making decisions based on its content. SpaceDaily.com and associated platforms make no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of information produced by ChatGPT.
|
|