Grijalva Celebrates Installation of First Rooftop Solar Panels from Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund
WASHINGTON – U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement during U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s trip to Puerto Rico in which she announced installation of the first rooftop solar and battery systems funded by the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF). The PR-ERF was established through funding secured by Ranking Member Grijalva with strong support of Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
“Today marks the beginning of a more reliable, resilient energy future for tens of thousands of families in Puerto Rico,” Ranking Member Grijalva said. “Not only will installation of new rooftop solar and battery systems help provide energy security for the low-income families and people with disabilities who receive them—it will take pressure off the electric grid, which will help everyone, especially as hurricane season ramps up.
“When I worked with my colleagues to secure the $1 billion in funding needed to establish the PR-ERF, I envisioned a program that would serve the families who need it most. I’m grateful to Secretary Granholm for her leadership in delivering on that vision and for her commitment to helping the millions of Americans who live in Puerto Rico have the same access to reliable energy that we all deserve.”
Additional Background
In October 2022, Ranking Member Grijalva led a 38-member letter to then-Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requesting federal funding for rooftop solar and battery storage for low-income households and households with disabilities in Puerto Rico.
Following that request, the FY2023 government funding omnibus bill included $1 billion to establish DOE’s Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) to improve the resilience of Puerto Rico’s electric grid by purchasing and installing renewable energy, energy storage and other grid technologies for residents who are low-income or have a disability. Last summer, Secretary Granholm announced nearly $500 million in PR-ERF funding opportunities, part of which funded the solar panel installation she toured today.
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