Biden administration moves to bolster solar power in Puerto Rico

The Biden administration made a pair of announcements Thursday that aim to bolster solar energy in Puerto Rico — which frequently deals with power outages.

The Energy Department announced a conditional agreement to loan $861 million to finance the construction of two solar farms and batteries to keep the power stored even when it’s not sunny. 

The department will also provide up to an additional $325 million for solar and battery storage as part of a new program aimed at helping the island’s power become more resilient to extreme weather. 

The nearly $900 million loan will go to Clean Flexible Energy LLC, a joint venture between electric utility AES and energy company TotalEnergies Holdings USA. 

The solar power produced by the two farms are expected to be enough to supply energy to about 43,000 homes each year. 

The other funding was set forth by Congress in an annual appropriations bill. It will award up to $140 million for projects at community health care facilities and up to $185 million for projects at multi-family housing. 

“Through the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, we’re expanding solar access to community healthcare facilities and subsidized multifamily housing, helping bring resilience and safety to even more families on the Island,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a written statement.

Puerto Rico has had long-standing power issues, exacerbated by storms like 2017’s Hurricane Maria and 2022’s Hurricane Fiona.