FEMA announces progress on Puerto Rico’s power grid work

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday it had approved funds for 15 projects designed to further Puerto Rico’s work on its electric generation, transmission, and distribution system.

Part of FEMA’s Accelerated Award’s Strategy, known as FAASt, the $107.3 million in approved funding will help make Puerto Rico’s electric grid more reliable, the agency said. In addition to the 15 announced Monday, an architecture and engineering project was approved by FEMA in October of last year.

“Today, we are once again demonstrating that both federal and state government agencies, as well as the private sector, have a common purpose in order for Puerto Rico’s reconstruction to continue moving forward. Teamwork is a priority for all of us, and together with FEMA, COR3, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, and LUMA, we are on the road to a strong and resilient energy system for our island. We continue to move ahead and speed up the pace of the remaining work because the excellent relationship we have with federal government agencies is delivering results,” said Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi, who last week was in Washington, D.C., and spoke with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the reconstruction and resiliency of the electric grid.

The funds represent a historic investment into the island’s power grid. Officials said hazard mitigation is a key measure to protect the federal investment, as is the use of higher quality materials and other planning measures that consider the risks associated with future emergencies.

Among the projects funded are $13.4 million for filtration equipment for the wastewater treatment system and a water pump condenser at the Aguirre power plant facility, part of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s generation system. Officials said the investments would increase energy production and make the grid more reliable.

To date, FEMA has authorized more than $11.7 billion for emergency work and permanent work for projects related to Hurricane Maria and the 2020 earthquakes.