Image source: Canva.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 28, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $325 million funding opportunity for the new Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, the latest initiative under the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF). This program is designed to enhance energy resilience for vulnerable communities across Puerto Rico by funding solar and battery storage installations in community healthcare facilities, as well as community centers and common areas within public housing and privately owned subsidized multi-family properties.
Maria Robinson, Director of DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, emphasized the program’s broad reach, stating, “Every municipality in Puerto Rico has a facility that could be eligible for an installation through the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes. This program will be a key tool in improving community-level resilience, ensuring that emergency rooms stay powered, residents of multifamily housing can refrigerate medicine and food, and vital services remain available during outages within low- and middle-income communities.”
The funding opportunity is open to individual entities or teams based in Puerto Rico capable of coordinating the deployment of solar and battery storage systems across multiple sites. DOE plans to allocate up to $325 million for these projects, focusing on two main areas:
- Multi-Family Housing Properties: DOE expects to award between $93 million and $185 million for solar and battery installations in community centers and common areas within public housing or privately owned multi-family housing properties subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eligible projects may include powering shared building infrastructure and community centers located on public housing properties.
- Community Healthcare Facilities: DOE intends to award between $70 million and $140 million to fund solar and battery installations for federally qualified healthcare centers, dialysis centers, and diagnostic and treatment centers.
Potential applicants include organizations or teams with a presence in Puerto Rico capable of deploying projects across multiple facilities or properties, such as community-based organizations, engineering firms, nonprofits, and solar installation companies. Those interested in applying can access an online Teaming Partner List to explore potential partnerships.
Applications are due by October 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST. More information is available on the Grid Deployment Office website.
Background on the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF):
The PR-ERF was established with $1 billion in funding, signed into law by President Biden in December 2022, to support investments in renewable and resilient energy infrastructure in Puerto Rico. In July 2024, DOE launched the Programa Acceso Solar, providing subsidized residential solar and battery storage systems to low-income households in Puerto Rico. Residents can check their eligibility and apply by visiting energy.gov/solarPR.
Source: ENERGYGOV
