Puerto Rico suffered such extensive damage to its electrical grid from Hurricane Mara in 2017 that it took 11 months to restore power to the man island. But that was not the end of the challenge. 75% of the grid was damaged beyond repair and thousands died. In 2020 extensive earthquakes caused even more damage. However things are still difficult. On June 10 the grid suffered a power outage that affected millions of people.

In February 2021 HUD approved the release of $1.3 billion dollars to begin the reconstruction of Puerto Ricos power grid.  As of June 2021 90% of the $9.6 billion committed to restore the power grid in Puerto Rico has been released.

At the present time only 3% of Puerto Rico’s grid is said to be made up of renewable energy sources. This is in contrast to Hawaii which has an estimated 38% of its power now coming from renewables. HUD is specifying that

The funds be used on renewable sources and there are estimates that if all of homes and buildings in Puerto Rico had solar panels and batteries that the island could reach its 75 % of its 100% renewable goal by 2050.

If the federal government has been willing to invest $9 billion dollars in the upgrading and redevelopment of Puerto Ricos grid is it time to expect a similar commitment to be made in Hawaii?

According Peter Rosegg the HECO spokesman “Puerto Rico's grid suffered vast destruction. Ours needs to be modernized and upgraded.  I doubt Puerto Rico and Hawaii are comparable in terms of need. ‘

Information for the above story is summarized from a Miami Herald Story -by Danica Coto from June 16, 2021.