Energy Exchange

Por Agustín Carbo y Amalia Saladrigas

La temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico está en curso y los científicos predicen que será una de las más intensas en las últimas décadas, debido a que el cambio climático ha hecho que las tormentas más frecuentes y severas sean la nueva normalidad. Para las comunidades a lo largo del archipiélago de Puerto Rico, que ya se han visto afectadas por un conjunto de crisis, es urgente planificar un futuro más resiliente.

La electricidad es esencial para todos los puertorriqueños; la salud y el bienestar de los residentes dependen de una fuente de energía que sea estable y confiable. Los desastres que se han vivido anteriormente, desde huracanes hasta terremotos, han demostrado la fragilidad y lo poco confiable que es el sistema centralizado de energía actual.

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Cristobal Jimenez

Cristobal Jimenez is a community leader in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He is one of the many survivors of Hurricane Maria. Recently, Cristobal and members of his community have been working to find long-lasting solutions to their energy challenges, effective ways to address the needs of their families and preparations for the future in the wake of superstorms.

Below is an edited version of the conversation we had with him.

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With hurricane season upon us again, I am reminded of the lessons learned after the devastation we went through in 2017, when thousands of people in Puerto Rico went without electricity for nearly a year after Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island. Many communities had limited access to clean water, food and health services.

As much as we’ve been able to rebuild, a lot of work remains to be done to prepare for the future. As temperatures rise, we see stronger, more frequent and more deadly hurricanes. We must ensure their outcome affects people as minimally as possible. This will require a better understanding of what communities need to rebuild and adapt, what technology can be deployed to address specific challenges — such as a modern, more resilient grid and infrastructure —and the tools that can be used to finance them.

Many local officials and communities in Puerto Rico are making remarkable progress to make this transformation possible. Following their lead is essential to making any solution to the island’s energy crisis successful in the long- term. Communities, energy reform, technology and finance – all have a role to play in protecting the island from the next super storm, while improving the quality of life for all its residents and strengthening its economy long into the future.

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