FEMA allocates another $5.7 million for recreational, natural areas

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the allocation of $5.7 million to repair recreational and natural areas that were damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. These repairs are expected to support preservation, tourism, and economic development in the affected areas. Among the recipients of the funding is Seven Seas Resort in Fajardo which received $2.7 million to rebuild gazebos, camping areas, lifeguard towers, lighting, and make other repairs.  More than $1.1 million was allocated to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to repair the water fountain of the Plaza Dársenas and Paseo La Princesa in Old San Juan. In all, FEMA has allocated $31.5 billion for nearly 10,900 projects to rebuild Puerto Rico since 2018.

Concerns raised about Puerto Rican recovery spending 

Puerto Rico Legal Aid, or Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, recently released a report highlighting the slow pace of the Island’s recovery process since Hurricanes Maria and Irma struck in 2017. Since then, Puerto Rico has received about $20 billion specifically for planning, housing, energy, and infrastructure projects.  However, Ayuda Legal claims that the Island’s Housing Department still does not have the capacity to manage the funds received and time to spend those dollars is running out. Additionally, the department has no system for fraud detection, raising concerns about oversight practices on existing spending practices and programs. Only 29% of the 3,067 people who received relocation vouchers when their homes were destroyed have purchased replacement homes. The report recommends reforming the flood insurance system to include environmental factors and reusing and upgrading abandoned properties, of which there are an estimated 200,000 that could be refurbished to supplement the current affordable housing inventory.

Broadband Program kicks off second request for proposals 

The Puerto Rico Broadband Program announced its second request for proposals (RFP) last week, seeking qualified providers to design and implement resilient power systems and reinforced infrastructure solutions for telecom and security facilities. The program was created by an Executive Order in 2022 to minimize internet and telecom connectivity issues in the event of natural disasters. The RFP specifically targets projects that can be implemented quickly. The deadline for this round of RFPs is December 22.

Largest solar facility in Puerto Rico is switched on 

Depcom Power’s Ciro One project, a 90 Megawatt (MW) solar facility with a 51.5 MW battery energy storage system, was switched on last week and became the largest operating solar-plus-storage facility in Puerto Rico. The project is expected to begin full operations by the end of the year. The facility features lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries, which guarantee a lifespan of at least 25 years compared to the traditional and more commonly used Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) technology. The system is designed to be stable through any natural disaster and is said to be capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds.