Press Release
☷U S Department of Energy and FEMA Study Finds Puerto Rico Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy Future By 2050
U.S. Department of Energy ( By Press Release office)
Feb 09,2024
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The PR100 Study Shows How Puerto Rico Can Achieve a Renewable and Resilient Grid; Low - Income Households Can Apply for Subsidized Residential Solar and Battery Systems Starting February 22 , 2024 San Juan , Puerto Rico—The U . S . Department of Energy ( DOE ) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) have released a summary report for the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study ( PR100 ) . According to the two - year study , Puerto Rico can meet its electricity needs with 100% renewable energy by 2050 . The PR100 study outlines different ways to achieve clean energy success , including stabilizing the grid and using distributed energy resources . To support Puerto Rico ' s clean energy goals , DOE has announced the launch of the Solar Access Program on February 22 , 2024 . This program aims to connect up to 30 , 000 low - income households with residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems at no upfront cost . It is part of the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund , a $1 billion DOE program focused on improving the resilience of Puerto Rico ' s electric grid , especially for vulnerable households and communities . The Biden - Harris Administration is committed to helping states and territories achieve their clean power targets and move towards a net - zero carbon economy by 2050 . U . S . Secretary of Energy Jennifer M . Granholm stated that DOE is proud to launch the Solar Access Program to support clean energy pathways and help vulnerable communities become more resilient in the face of climate change . Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N . Mayorkas also highlighted the administration ' s commitment to building a sustainable and resilient future for Puerto Rico , ensuring that every community has access to affordable energy and cleaner air . Governor of Puerto Rico , Pedro R . Pierluisi , expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the PR - 100 study and the Biden - Harris Administration for their support in achieving energy transformation goals . The PR100 study , funded by FEMA , began in February 2022 and involved DOE ' s National Labs working with local stakeholders to gather data , create models , and develop an Implementation Roadmap for achieving 100% renewable energy . Extensive stakeholder input , including a community engagement tour , was crucial in shaping the study ' s results and recommendations . Key findings of the PR100 study show that Puerto Rico has the potential to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and has abundant renewable energy resources to meet current and future electricity needs . Prioritizing stakeholder input and interagency coordination will be vital for a fair and equitable transition . Puerto Rico needs to significantly increase its power generation infrastructure , like hundreds of megawatts worth , in order to stabilize the grid and address the current shortage of electricity . This includes quickly implementing large - scale and small - scale renewable energy sources and a lot of storage . We can achieve our renewable energy goals by developing projects on land that isn ' t meant for farming , although these sites tend to be more expensive . By 2050 , Puerto Rico will see a significant increase in rooftop solar capacity and storage . However , we ' ll still need utility - scale renewable energy and storage projects to reliably meet the demand for electricity . While investing in new generation will create a more reliable grid , it may also lead to higher rates . We need a strategic plan to manage rates while improving reliability , which could involve maximizing the use of distributed resources like rooftop solar , energy efficiency , and storage , as well as cost - effective management of larger - scale resources . Secretary Granholm will announce the final study results in San Juan on February 7 , 2024 . You can watch the livestreamed event on this website . The event will be presented in English with captions and live interpretation in Spanish and American Sign Language . You can access the findings at PR100 . gov . As part of our commitment to supporting Puerto Rico ' s energy resilience and renewable energy goals , the Department of Energy is launching the Programa Acceso Solar . This program aims to connect up to 30 , 000 low - income households in Puerto Rico with subsidized residential solar panels and battery storage systems . If you ' re interested , you can check your eligibility and find your local Solar Ambassador on energy . gov/solarPR . The application period opens on February 22 , and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis . We expect high demand for this program , so we encourage potential applicants to review the eligibility requirements and reach out to their Solar Ambassadors as soon as possible . Residential folks who meet all three of these requirements might qualify for the Programa Acceso Solar: They need to have a low income , which can be proved by being enrolled in a government assistance program ( such as Low - Income Home Energy Assistance Program , Nutrition Assistance Program , or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ) . They must also own the single - family home they currently live in . And either someone in their household relies on an electricity or battery - dependent medical device due to a medical condition or disability , or their address is eligible for an installation . The Department of Energy ( DOE ) has pinpointed eligible regions across Puerto Rico based on having a high percentage of low - income residents and experiencing frequent and long power outages . You can find instructions on how to confirm address eligibility on energy . gov/SolarPR . To learn more about the PR100 Study , visit pr100 . gov . For additional information about DOE’s Solar Access Program , check out energy . gov/solarPR . And don ' t forget to learn more about the Grid Deployment Office . ### .
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