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A decade-long recession, and
. . . utility mismanagement of an aging grid,
. . . exacerbate problems rooted in
. . . Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status.
The unfortunate combination of
. . . colonialism, and local miscues,
. . . make rebuilding infrastructure, a taller task
. . . than for other island nations,
. . . or the US mainland.

The island’s residents are US citizens who pay federal taxes.
. . . It has its own constitution,
but, the US federal government can, and
. . . does intervene in local affairs,
. . . it's poverty rate is a startling 45%.

Imported fuel, costs Puerto Ricans more than
. . . $2 billion per year.

Distributing renewable energy resources across the island,
.. .would provide 3 types of resiliency:
. . . .. . Batteries help maintain power for crucial infrastructure:
. . . . . . . . . hospitals,
. . . . . . . . . community centers,
. . . . . . . . . cellular towers,
. . . . . . . . . water-pumping) during storms.

Renewable energy would provide power generation immediately after storms,
. . . to refuel batteries, and
. . . provide power at key locations.
Renewables, avoid the supply-chain disaster of diesel generators,
. . . whose fuel must be unloaded at ports, and
. . . shipped on roads ravaged by storms.

2-8-2018 Source:  Puerto Rico: #Grid