Puerto Rico Hit by Category 1 Storm Fiona

(NEW YORK, NY) Hurricane Fiona, a category 1 storm, made landfall in Puerto Rico over the weekend, causing catastrophic flooding and leaving much of the island without electricity. Many communities, some of which were still working to rebuild after Hurricane Maria five years ago, suffered additional setbacks that will require significantly more time and resources to fully recover.

“It is unacceptable that five years after hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is still in such precarious situation. The current energy crisis is dire, and Puerto Ricans and the island’s economy are still taking a hit. We urge the government and the corresponding parties to find concrete solutions and take swift and effective action to resolve the situation.”

“More needs to be done for Puerto Rico’s families as they get back on their feet, focusing on the electric system’s modernization to bring clean, affordable and reliable energy to the entire island in the long-term. Environmental Defense Fund is committed to continue working with communities to create these opportunities and help Puerto Rico thrive and prosper long into the future.”  

• Daniel Whittle, Senior Director, Caribbean Initiatives

Environmental Defense Fund seeks to identify effective and equitable energy solutions that can bring clean, community-centered electricity to Puerto Rico and can meet the daily needs of its residents, while making the island more resilient to climate change. Our work centers on advancing a community-driven solar and storage project on the island of Culebra and supporting a range of partners who are driving systemic change to the energy system across Puerto Rico. We approach this work holistically, leveraging our technical expertise, sustainable financing tools and energy reform experience to help develop long-term solutions to the territory’s energy crisis. For more information, visit www.edf.org/PuertoRico.