Hi,
The frequent, devastating loss of electrical power in Puerto Rico is
unacceptable. Recently, Hurricane Fiona knocked out Puerto Rico’s entire
electric grid, leading to widespread outages.^1
This isn’t the first time the island has suffered from an unreliable
electrical grid — in fact, after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in
2017, residents have experienced power grid failures on and off on a
regular basis.^2
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: The Biden administration must fix Puerto Rico’s
power grid and equip the island with sustainable, reliable, and resilient
infrastructure.
ADD YOUR NAME
More than 100 organizations in Puerto Rico and the Diaspora have called on
President Biden to avoid the “human-made disaster” and “wasteful use of
federal funds” that the U.S. government earmarked to fix Puerto Rico’s
energy infrastructure.^3 It’s past time for the Biden administration to
take action.
Hurricane Maria killed 3,000 people and left some Puerto Rico residents
without power for nearly a year. The efforts to address failures in the
power grid have been slow to move forward — a big reason why now Hurricane
Fiona could so easily knock out power across the island.
Part of the problem is the private consortium contracted to improve the
grid: LUMA Energy. LUMA negotiated a 15-year contract with the Puerto
Rican government “behind closed doors with no input from citizens.”^4 The
contract is part of an effort to privatize the electrical grid on the
island. And LUMA has raised energy costs for residents, isn’t using
renewable energy, and has been accused of abusing workers.^5 This is not
how to solve these problems.
The Biden administration must work with FEMA to immediately fix the
island’s power grid so it’s not failing the people of Puerto Rico.
[ [link removed] ]Sign our petition right now calling on the Biden administration to take
immediate action to fix Puerto Rico’s power grid.
Thanks for taking action,
Tihi and the team at Demand Progress
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. The Washington Post, “Even before Fiona, Puerto Rico’s power grid was
poised for failure,” [ [link removed] ]September 19, 2022.
2. The American Prospect, "Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid Is On-Again,
Off-Again," [ [link removed] ]August 19, 2022.
3. Latino Rebels, "Open Letter to Biden Calls LUMA Contract in Puerto
Rico a 'Dangerous Misuse of Public Funds'" [ [link removed] ]June 22, 2021.
4. Ibid.
5. Waging Nonviolence, "Protesters demand end to Puerto Rico’s contract
with LUMA Energy," [ [link removed] ]July 22, 2022.
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