New federal funds for solar, battery storage announced

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday announced a conditional commitment to finance new solar and battery storage facilities on the southern coast of Puerto Rico.  The investment would be worth $861 million and would be used to finance two solar farms that would power 43,000 homes on the Island.  The funds would also fund two battery-storage units that would provide 285 megawatts energy storage.   The facilities, named Project Marahu, represents the largest solar installations in Puerto Rico, Canary Media reports.  The Island is in the process of switching to 100 percent renewables, as Puerto Rican legislators have committed to using zero-carbon energy by 2050.  Additionally, the DOE announced $325 million in grants to install solar and battery storage in community centers, healthcare facilities, and multifamily housing.  The new loan guarantee could help ramp up grid resilience in Puerto Rico, where customers have been impacted by frequent power outages. It is estimated that Puerto Rican customers pay an 41 percent more than the U.S. average for electricity.

Island’s agricultural sector shows increase

Although the agricultural sector in Puerto Rico makes up less than 1 percent of the Island’s gross domestic product (GDP), it is growing.  That is the finding announced recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The total value of the Island’s agricultural production increased in 2022 to $703 million, a spike of 45 percent compared to 2018 data, when the Census of Agriculture was last conducted.  More than 40 percent of production was in the regions of Arecibo and Ponce.  Milk was the largest commodity by value of sales ($173 million).  Despite a decrease in the number of farms, the amount of farm land in Puerto Rico rose 1.4 percent, and now comprises 21.9 percent of land on the Island. Historically, the agriculture sector was once far larger; in the 1930s, it represented more than 40 percent of the Island’s GDP.

Puerto Rico sues fossil fuel companies over climate change

Puerto Rico’s Department of Justice filed suit last week against leading fossil fuel companies, claiming that the companies misled the public about climate change.  Among the defendants are ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron and Conoco Phillips.  The suit also alleges that the companies’ practices delayed a transition to clean energy, The Verge reports.  The government seeks $1 billion in damages which would go toward a fund that would be used to help the Island defend itself against climate disasters and strengthen Puerto Rico’s infrastructure. Previously, 37 municipalities and the city of San Juan had sued fossil fuel companies in the wake of Hurricane Maria.