Our final blog highlighting a few of the case studies from the Tufts UEP graduate team of community-owned energy projects is focused on the Adjuntas town in Puerto Rico.
By KC Coryatt
Our final blog highlighting a few of the case studies from the Tufts UEP graduate team of community-owned energy projects is focused on the Adjuntas town in Puerto Rico. This community serves as an example of energy independence and ownership, showing us how renewable energy can strengthen a community’s resilience, especially as our climate continues to drastically impact the intensity of our weather.
In 2017, the Category 5 Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico, causing nationwide devastation and destroying over 80% of the island’s centralized electrical grid. Due to the damaged grid, power loss fell upon the entire island, leading to the longest blackout in the history of the United States, leaving millions in the dark and medical facilities in dysfunction. While residents connected to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) grid faced immediate power loss, a community center in the 18,000 person town of Adjuntas kept the lights on. The difference? This center had rooftop solar generation.
Casa Pueblo, founded in 1980, is a local community-based group dedicated to protecting the environment and people. In order to secure clean, renewable energy in the face of the recurring collapse of the fossil fuel based energy system, Casa Pueblo established their own rooftop solar generation. This electricity was sufficient enough to support residents by keeping medical devices running, food and medication refrigerated, and providing people the power needed to recuperate post-hurricane. Since 2017, the organization has installed 350 solar systems on essential service buildings and residential homes.
This initiative emphasizes the power of localized, renewable energy in strengthening community resilience. By having independent energy generation and storage, Casa Pueblo demonstrates how renewable energy can keep vital services running when central fossil fuel based systems collapse. As this model inspires communities across not only Puerto Rico, but nationwide, it serves as an example to us of the benefits and strength of alternative energy systems. In Salem, a solar microgrid can provide energy resilience and sustainability to our residents.
KC Coryatt is SAFE’s Summer Intern.