After the most devastating power blackout in US history killed more than 4,000 people in Puerto Rico, the island passed a law calling for the most rapid transition ever to renewable energy. RenewPR provides crucial, rapid education and coordination campaigns to get more clean energy and battery storage deployed, while cutting out the 30% of electricity that's wasted. The Transparency Hub makes important energy policy issues easy to understand, and teaches leaders how they can get involved.
Puerto Rico's power grid is the most fragile in the developed world. Lack of electricity is the reason why most of the 4,000 people died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in the fall of 2017. Although the island now has a law requiring a shift to 100% renewable energy, actually doing so takes a rapid amount of learning, understanding, planning and coordination. Lack of citizen engagement is endangering the island's shift to clean energy, as many of the policy issues are complicated.
This project will provide startup funds for a new "Clean Energy Transparency Hub". The Hub will provide easy to understand explanations of the current energy proceedings, like the utility company's 20-year planning process, over a dozen overlapping policy rulemakings, & the utility company's bankruptcy. It will also highlight existing and developing financing mechanisms and funding for solar, and highlight opportunities for energy stakeholders and the public to help move these things forward.
For Puerto Rico, a rapid shift to efficient, clean energy means lives saved during the next inevitable widespread electric blackout. Active citizen engagement will also build networks and relationships to enable greater collaboration during the next disaster as well. The island's successful, rapid shift to clean energy can also be an inspiration for other societies as they shift to clean energy. Ultimately, this work is absolutely necessary to curb the worst impacts of climate change.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
