The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the reallocation of up to $365 million to improve Puerto Rico’s electric grid. This funding aims to address long-standing problems with the island’s power system, which has been affected by deferred maintenance, management issues, and repeated storm damage.
The DOE will channel these funds through its Grid Deployment Office and work with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to make necessary repairs and implement emergency measures that are intended to stabilize the grid and protect critical infrastructure.
“For too long Puerto Ricans have endured instability in their power system with outages and inflated costs,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The Department of Energy is putting the needs of Puerto Rico’s residents first and taking decisive action to restore reliability, protect essential services, and build an energy future they can depend on.”
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón also commented on the initiative: “A reliable, secure electric system is essential to meet citizens’ basic needs and promote economic development, including our initiatives to bring manufacturing back to Puerto Rico and revitalize the American industrial base. Since day one, President Trump and Secretary Wright have recognized this, making it a priority to support our efforts to stabilize the island’s power grid and prevent future outages. The Department of Energy’s $365 million award is further proof of this commitment. These funds will help support emergency activities to increase grid reliability and repair generation assets, delivering immediate results that will benefit all 3.2 million Americans in Puerto Rico.”
According to DOE officials, this action follows Executive Order 14156 issued by President Trump, which directed federal agencies to prioritize strengthening critical infrastructure across Puerto Rico.
The money comes from the Puerto Rico Resilience Fund (PR-ERF). It was originally awarded by the Biden Administration in December 2024 for rooftop solar projects planned for construction in 2026 but has now been redirected toward more immediate repairs intended to reach a larger portion of the population more quickly.
DOE stated it would continue working with local authorities in Puerto Rico as efforts move forward on stabilizing electricity service for residents.
