Groups Urge US to Restore $350M in Solar Funding for Puerto Rico
Nearly 200 organizations are urging the Trump administration and Puerto Rico’s governor to restore $350 million in federal funding designated for installing rooftop solar and battery systems for 12,000 low-income families. The coalition argues that canceling these funds jeopardizes the lives of residents with disabilities or medical conditions who rely on consistent electricity, especially as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches. While Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González stated the administration had no choice after the federal government withheld the funds to invest in the broader power grid instead, advocates describe the situation as life-or-death for vulnerable households. Programs had already equipped over 6,000 homes, but thousands remain in limbo with a May 9 deadline looming. Affected residents, including those requiring medical devices like sleep apnea machines and refrigerated medication, face economic hardship and health risks due to chronic power outages. The Hispanic Federation and other nonprofits are formally objecting to the cancellation and negotiating with the U.S. Department of Energy to secure the necessary resources for energy resilience in the U.S. territory.
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Groups Urge US to Restore $350M in Solar Funding for Puerto Rico
Nearly 200 organizations are urging the Trump administration and Puerto Rico’s governor to restore $350 million in federal funding designated for installing rooftop solar and battery systems for 12,000 low-income families. The coalition argues that canceling these funds jeopardizes the lives of residents with disabilities or medical conditions who rely on consistent electricity, especially as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches. While Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González stated the administration had no choice after the federal government withheld the funds to invest in the broader power grid instead, advocates describe the situation as life-or-death for vulnerable households. Programs had already equipped over 6,000 homes, but thousands remain in limbo with a May 9 deadline looming. Affected residents, including those requiring medical devices like sleep apnea machines and refrigerated medication, face economic hardship and health risks due to chronic power outages. The Hispanic Federation and other nonprofits are formally objecting to the cancellation and negotiating with the U.S. Department of Energy to secure the necessary resources for energy resilience in the U.S. territory.
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