Welcome to Connect Puerto Rico,

We’re a monthly newsletter tracking the people, policies, and projects shaping Puerto Rico’s renewable energy development.

We break down what’s happening, what’s not, and what you can do about it.

In this issue, we start with the effects of Hurricane Erin before turning to political shake-ups, big energy contracts, and lawsuits that reveal how deeply Puerto Rico’s infrastructure challenges are tied together.

Hurricane Erin passed north of Puerto Rico on Aug. 15, bringing heavy rains and winds from its outer bands. The storm knocked down power lines, left hundreds of thousands without electricity, and stirred dangerous rip currents along the island’s north coast. Erin briefly weakened to a Category 3 — meaning sustained winds of 111–129 mph, strong enough to uproot trees, tear off roofs, and cause widespread power and water outages — but is forecast to strengthen and expand as it moves further into the Atlantic. (The Associated Press)

Even when storms don’t make landfall, Puerto Rico’s fragile grid and water systems remain vulnerable. Erin’s impacts compounded the blackouts that have already sparked public outcry and lawsuits against LUMA and PREPA.

The Trump administration fired six of the seven members of Puerto Rico’s federally appointed Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) — two Republicans and four Democrats, including board chair Arthur J. González. (The Associated Press). Andrew Biggs was removed Aug. 13.

The White House accused the board of “inefficiency” and “overspending” on consultants and salaries. Critics, including Rep. Nydia Velázquez, called the move a political purge aimed at installing pro-bondholder appointees.

The FOMB was created in 2016 under The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) after Puerto Rico declared it could not pay its more than $70 billion public debt. (NBC News, 2016)

The FOMB, dubbed 'La Junta' by Puerto Ricans, is routinely criticized for having 'almost complete control over Puerto Rico's finances without being elected.' Instead, members of the FOMB are appointed by the U.S. president — a role Puerto Ricans living on the islands have no vote in.

As economist José Caraballo Cueto noted, the arrangement reflects 'totalitarianism' that 'seems easier to explain when it comes to a colony.' The board has spent over $2 billion on consultants while its executive director earns $625,000 - about 24 times Puerto Rico's median household income. (The Latino Newsletter)

The Associated Press details how the shake-up comes as the board remains at an impasse over $8.5 billion owed by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).

Reporting from TLN adds that new board members could push for a repayment as high as $12 billion, which would likely mean higher electricity rates for residents and businesses.

Puerto Ricans already pay the highest electricity costs in the U.S. while earning less than half the income of the poorest state, according to U.S. Census data. Previous FOMB proposals for “legacy charges” tied to debt repayment were rejected over concerns they would devastate the economy. (TLN)

With PREPA’s restructuring still the final major unresolved debt, changes to the board’s makeup could determine whether ratepayer protections remain in place or are replaced with bondholder-friendly terms. (AP)

Puerto Rico halted negotiations on a $20 billion, 30-year contract with New Fortress Energy to expand its natural gas use. The contract — which required approval from the island’s Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) — faced delays and growing skepticism. The government’s Energy Bureau also questioned the deal’s compatibility with Puerto Rico’s mandate to shift to 100% renewable energy by 2050. (Bloomberg via MSN)

The decision highlights Puerto Rico’s ongoing struggle to balance short-term energy needs with long-term renewable goals. LNG backers argue natural gas can stabilize the grid while renewables ramp up, but critics say the deal would have locked the island into decades of fossil fuel dependence, raising energy costs and slowing the clean energy transition.

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Puerto Rico’s Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against LUMA Energy, the private company managing the island’s power transmission and distribution, accusing it of negligence for repeated blackouts and voltage fluctuations. (The Associated Press) 

The suit argues that unstable service has damaged household appliances and other equipment across the island, leaving residents with repair and replacement costs that should be LUMA’s responsibility.

The case reflects mounting frustration with LUMA’s performance since it assumed control of the grid in 2021. Blackouts remain frequent, including major interruptions during New Year’s Eve and Easter Week. The governor has pledged to cancel LUMA’s contract but admits the process will be “long and complex.”

Public anger over service disruptions has sparked protests and political criticism, with watchdogs warning that residents are bearing the brunt of the costs for an unstable grid (Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, 2024).

Investigations have also raised concerns about a lack of transparency in how LUMA tracks outages and addresses complaints.

In late July, Gov. Jenniffer González declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard after a damaged water line left nearly 180,000 people without water at its peak. By mid-August, most service had been restored — though thousands of households, businesses, and a dozen hotels remained affected. Officials have not identified who damaged the line during road repairs (The Associated Press).

This crisis comes amid prolonged power outages that have already thrown daily life into disarray. Many water systems rely on electricity to pump and deliver safe drinking water — meaning blackouts have compounded water shortages, leaving families without two of their most basic needs. The overlap of water and power failures underscores how fragile Puerto Rico’s infrastructure remains, and how much is at stake when multiple systems falter at once.

A toppled utility pole in the mountain town of Utuado killed four horses and cut electricity to parts of the area. Officials have not determined the cause of the collapse, but firefighters and police responded to the scene. (The Associated Press)

The incident underscores the state of Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure, still being rebuilt nearly eight years after Hurricane Maria. Chronic outages remain common, and the government has pledged to end its contract with LUMA Energy, the private company that manages transmission and distribution.

Hi, I’m Jillian. I’m a journalist, editor, and founder of Connect Puerto Rico.

I started thinking about what would become C-PR after reporting from Puerto Rico in 2019. While learning about Hurricane Maria recovery, I saw how rebuilding efforts to incorporate renewables, distribute energy, and build grid resilience lacked cross-sector coordination and the input of Puerto Ricans communities and experienced industry professionals.

This newsletter connects U.S. policy decisions to what’s happening on the ground because Puerto Rico shouldn’t just recover from disasters, it should lead in building for the future.