Puerto Rico eyes 100% renewables by mid-century

Governor Ricardo Rosselló last week presented the Puerto Rico Pledge for Climate Change, which includes a 100% renewables target by 2050 and an ambition to build a modern and resilient grid.

As part of the Pledge, Puerto Rico will also aim to cut its carbon footprint by 50% in five years. In addition, about 500,000 trees will be planted over the same period, helping to combat erosion in coastal areas.

Resiliency is an important topic for the territory, especially after in September 2017 Hurricane Irma and then Hurricane Maria damaged an estimated 80% of the grid in Puerto Rico, leaving most of the population without power. It took 328 days to restore power to “almost all customers”, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) said last month.

“We are undertaking the most ambitious resiliency project in the US, but we cannot stop climate change alone. We need each and every state to follow suit, therefore I call upon my colleagues across the nation to join me in the fight of our generation: Putting a stop to climate change and saving our planet,” said Puerto Rico Governor.

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