(PartiallyPolitics.com) – Following the announcement last month from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over the decision to cease the power generation mission in Puerto Rico, both local officials and private institutions have expressed concerns that this could lead to the collapse of the electric grid on the island.
FEMA informed Cor3, the reconstruction authority in the island, that they would end the operations of two emergency power generating stations by March 15. The two units had a capacity of 350 megawatts.
For Puerto Rico, this announcement could end up threatening the island’s ability to have enough power. Officials have also noted that they were hoping that the generators would continue to be installed on the island until next November when the 2024 hurricane season ended.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) pointed out that while FEMA is attempting to have the generators removed, he feels that the agency has a humanitarian obligation to allow the generators to remain in place until Puerto Rico has established sufficient power generation for the replacement of the generators. He proceeded to call the removal of the generators “an act of cruelty” against those living on the island.
Puerto Rican officials also pointed out that originally they had requested 700 megawatts, but their request was downgraded to having only 350 megawatts provided. They also pointed out that the timeline for the plan had also been downgraded and that the first generator was installed in July while the second was added in September.
The power plants were meant to assist in the power generation infrastructure reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Fiona.
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