SW Arkansas Times

The Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs conducted an oversight hearing today to address Puerto Rico's ongoing challenges with its electric grid and access to reliable, affordable energy. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) expressed her disappointment over the absence of Biden-Harris administration officials at the hearing.

“It has been seven years since hurricanes Irma and Maria, and yet Puerto Rico continues to suffer major power outage incidents with no clear end in sight. I am deeply disappointed that our witnesses from the Biden-Harris administration declined to testify today, especially since the administration is exacerbating the power issues on the island by forcing its political agenda of unreliable power sources on Puerto Rico, such as solar and wind, which cannot support baseload power," Hageman stated. "Moreover, these witnesses traveled from Puerto Rico to engage on this important topic, but Biden-Harris officials couldn’t be bothered to come down the street to participate."

Hageman emphasized the need for all stakeholders involved in rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electrical grid to commit to addressing these issues. “The residents of Puerto Rico deserve access to reliable, affordable and resilient energy,” she added.

Puerto Rican residents face some of the highest utility costs in the United States. The island's electrical grid is still undergoing significant reconstruction following natural disasters in 2017 and 2022. Additionally, Puerto Rico is navigating a complex debt restructuring process that has shifted management of its electrical grid from government control to private firms. Despite these efforts, frequent blackouts and service disruptions persist.

The Biden-Harris administration's focus on renewable energy sources like solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs) has posed challenges for rebuilding efforts. This emphasis has led to supply chain issues as local utilities compete with federal agencies for necessary equipment, delaying transformer replacements across Puerto Rico by one to three years.

Genera representatives highlighted that increased EV usage has driven up electricity demand during peak hours when residents are home in the evening. Solar power alone cannot meet this demand as it diminishes during sunset. The administration's continued promotion of rooftop solar projects as a solution has been criticized for not addressing this reality.

House Republicans advocate for an inclusive energy strategy that allows Puerto Rico flexibility in constructing its grid and energy mix according to its needs.

During today's hearing, members questioned LUMA Energy and Genera PR officials about their ongoing challenges but were unable to question any Biden-Harris administration officials due to their absence.