U.S. DOT awards EV grants of $51.4 million 

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Thursday new grants to enable the Island to install electric vehicle charging ports along major corridors.  The $51.4 million in awards, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will lead to the construction of ten such EV stations.  The ports will be part of a project to create a charging network across Puerto Rico.  The funds will be managed by the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority.  Meanwhile, the marketplace for EVs faces a challenge: the Puerto Rico Treasury Department confirmed last week that, due to a loophole in the language of the Inflation Reduction Act, Island residents are ineligible to receive the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of a new electric vehicle.

Big boost in number of candidates running as independents

Forty-three candidates have filed to run as independents in the 2024 general elections, representing a four-fold increase over the number who ran in 2020.  Four years ago, ten such candidates ran for office in Puerto Rico.  The only successful independent candidate from that cycle, Senator Jose Vargas Vidot, intends to run as an independent once again this year.   Three candidates for governor will attempt to win office without the backing of a political party.  Each of the announced candidates will require certification from the State Elections Commission to appear on the ballot.

Coffee production still down since Hurricane Maria

Six years after Hurricane Maria, a key sector of the Island’s economy is still struggling to regain its footing: coffee production.  During 2023, about 28,500 coffee quintals were harvested, a drop of 56.77% compared to production in fiscal year 2017.  (A quintal is the equivalent of 100 kilograms.)  The findings were released by Puerto Rico Agriculture Secretary, Ramón González Beiró.  Officials said that 79% of coffee trees were lost in the hurricane, and the problem has been exacerbated by labor challenges since then.  Employers have hired workers from Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Honduras to make up for the shortage.  Gonzalez has also established a program to subsidize coffee growers with two million coffee trees annually for planting. Despite the challenges, coffee prices are expected to remain stable this year.