A Solar Solution to Puerto Rico’s Power Grid Problems
Updated: 5:59 PM EDT Oct 8, 2021
SOLEDAD: FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN HURRICANE MARIA MADE LANDFALL IN PUERTO RICO, IT LT EFTHREE THOUSAND DEAD. CAUSED NEARLY 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. AND KNOCKED OUT POWER TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLANFORD NEARLY A YEAR. TO HELP REBUILD PUERTO RICO’’ HOMES, HIGHWAYS, AND ELECTRILCA GRID, CONGRESS ALLOCATED AROUN63D BILLION DOLLARS IN DISASTER RELIEF. REPORTS SHOW LITTLE OF THAAIT D MONEY HAS GONE TO REPAIR THE OUTDATED POWER GRID. IN FACT, PUERTO RICO’S RESIDESNT ARE STILL VULNERAB.LE JUST THIS WEEK, WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES AND ROLLING BLACKOUTS AFFECTED NEARLY A THIRD OF THE GRID’S CUSTOMERS. DEBATES OVER PUERTO RICO’S ENERGY FUTURE HAVE MANY ONHE T ISLAND ADVOCATING FOR A SORLA SOLUTION. SOMETHING WE SAW IN PERSON IN 20.19 >> PUERTO RICO FROM ABOVE BLUE TARPS COVER LEAKY ROOFS. SOME OLD POWER LINES ARE IN DISREPAIR. PUERTO RICO IS STILL ON THE MEND. >> “HOW BAD D DITHINGS GET HERE? >> VERY BAD YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THAT’S MY ROOF.” >> JOSEPH CORDERO’S FAMILY LOST THEIR ROOF AND POWER FOR NEARLY FOUR MS.TH >> ALL THIS AREA, ETH ELECTRICITY GOES FAST. ANY WD,IN ANY RAIN, THE ELECTRICITY GOES. SOLEDAD: EVEN WHEN THERENOS HURRICAN E? >> YEAH, EXACTLY. >> BUT NEXT TIME WL BEIL DIFFERENT. THE CORDEROS AND MANY PUERTO RICANS SAY THEY HAVE A HOMEGROWN PLAN TO RECOVER FROM THE NEW STORMS THAT WILL SURELY FOLLOW MARIA. THEY CALL IT AUTO-GESTION OR LFSE SUFFICIENCY. >> ESTAN DEPENDIENDO DE ELLOS NO DE LA AGENCIA GOVERNMENT.AL SOLED:DA YOU WANT TO DEPEND ON YOURSELF NOT ON THE GOVERNNTME TO RESCUE YOU IF YOU WL?IL >> YEH, WE CREATE OUR OWN ENERGY >> FOR THE CORDEROS AUTO GESTION MEANS EMBRACING SOLAR POWER. IT COST $3,400 TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS THAT NOW POWER THEIR ENTIRE HE.OM >> IF ANOTHER HURRICANE PA WSS HAVE ELECTRICITY BECAUSE WE NO LONGER DEPEND ON THE BIG PLANTS AND IT’S MORE EASY TO HELP THE PEOPLE. >> 98% OF PUERTO RICO’S POWER COMES FROM ELECTRICAL GRIDS LIKE THIS ONE IN NEARBY GUAYAMA. THEY CAN RUN ON OIL, NATURAL GAS OR COAL. THE …….
Source: https://www.wmur.com/article/solar-panel-solution-puerto-rico-power-grid-hurricane-maria/37913090