Sustainability and Social Justice

Date of Award

12-2020

Degree Type

Practitioner Report

Degree Name

Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change (IDSC)

Department

International Development, Community and Environment

Chief Instructor

David I. Bell

Keywords

Puerto Rico, Culebra, Grid, PREPA, Electric, Power System, Hurricane Maria

Abstract

Puerto Rico’s grid was decimated in 2017 after experiencing back-to-back hurricanes – Maria and Irma. Although the hurricanes caused tremendous damage and hardship to the island, it also created the right circumstances for the local energy landscape to transition toward a more resilient and sustainable model. Through an analysis of recent challenges by the local electric utility PREPA, and subsequent fallout from the hurricanes, we see that they now hold a unique opportunity to redeem themselves by taking advantage of catalyzed resources to rebuild a better system. One region that could greatly benefit from an improved and reimagined grid are the two island municipalities of Culebra and Vieques. After investigating PREPA’s failures over the last 10 years, and responses to them, we breakdown the possibility of building a utility-scale solar farm on Culebra and how it may contribute to the island’s energy independence. Finally, we look at the potential impacts that a project of this magnitude could have on the Caribbean and the way we think about small islands and their power systems.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.