Strengthening Puerto Rico's energy system

Affordable, low-carbon electricity for healthier, safer and more prosperous communities

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is leading a community-based residential solar project in the island municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico. This project will be funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF), which seeks to increase energy resilience in the archipelago's most vulnerable communities, and to meet the goals of the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act requiring that 100% of the archipelago's energy come from renewable sources by 2050.

EDF’s project seeks to facilitate access to photovoltaic systems and backup batteries, reduce the energy burden on beneficiaries and provide backup for critical loads.

Watch: Environmental Defense fund installed solar systems in 45 residences as part of a community-based pilot project in the island municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico

With an initial grant from Fundación Colibrí Puerto Rico, Environmental Defense Fund began working in Puerto Rico in 2018. We seek to identify effective, equitable and long-lasting energy solutions that can bring clean, community-centered electricity to the archipelago and can meet the daily needs of residents, while making Puerto Rico more resilient to climate change.

A resilient island

EDF’s work centers on advancing a community-driven solar and storage project on the island municipality of Culebra and supporting a range of partners who are driving systemic change to the energy system across the entire territory. With political will, the right policies, programs and projects, Puerto Rico can meet its mandate to source 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2025 and 100% by 2050.

Energy reform

The current Integrated Resource Plan was amended and approved with public participation by Puerto Rico's energy regulator in August 2020. It provides a guide for the archipelago to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050. It also includes recommendations offered by EDF and our partners to prioritize clean and distributed energy, while rejecting new investments in natural gas infrastructure. 

We approach all of this work holistically, leveraging our technical expertise, sustainable financing tools and energy reform experience to help develop long-term solutions to the island’s energy crisis.

Environmental Defense Fund is collaborating with local communities and coordinating with academic institutions, technical specialists, and financial experts to bring these community-driven solar and storage projects to Puerto Rico and support long-term solutions to the archipelago’s energy crisis.

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