US DOE redirects $365m in solar + storage funding to Puerto Rico grid

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced it will redirect $365 million in funding to address Puerto Rico’s grid resiliency and expand access of secure power supply.

The funding, allocated through the Puerto Rico Resilience Fund (PR-ERF), will be deployed to support “practical fixes and emergency activities,” DOE said, focusing on critical facilities like hospitals and community centers.

The announcement follows US secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s decision to issue two emergency orders for Puerto Rico just weeks after the most recent island-wide blackout.

This $365 million funding was initially awarded by the Biden administration in December 2024 to support rooftop solar and battery storage installations slated to begin construction in 2026. Now, DOE is reprioritising these awards and will redirect funding to support technologies meant to improve system flexibility and response, power flow and control, component strength, supply security, and safety.

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“With President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is focused on fortifying America’s electric grid and ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity across the country, and nowhere is this more needed than in Puerto Rico,” said Secretary Wright.

“By redirecting these funds, we will ensure taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen access to affordable, reliable and secure power, benefiting more citizens as quickly as possible. This strategic shift allows us to address the root causes of the grid’s instability, strengthening the grid’s fragile infrastructure and delivering lasting relief for Puerto Rico.”

“Puerto Rico is facing an energy emergency that requires we act now and deliver immediate solutions. Our communities, businesses, and healthcare facilities cannot afford to wait years, nor can we rely on piecemeal approaches with limited results. Rather than impacting a few customers, deploying these funds for urgent projects that improve the resiliency and reliability of our grid will have widespread, lasting benefits for all 3.2 million Americans in Puerto Rico,” said Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

“Since day one, President Trump and Secretary Wright have made it a priority to ensure we implement comprehensive solutions to address Puerto Rico’s energy challenges. I look forward to continuing working with them on these efforts.”

Originally published by Sean Wolfe on Factor This.