POLITICO Energy Puerto Rico’s power system is broken. Legal battles and Trump could make it worse.
7 snips
Apr 1, 2025 Gloria Gonzalez, Deputy Energy Editor at POLITICO, dives into the critical energy crisis in Puerto Rico. She highlights the staggering $12 billion debt of the Electric Power Authority and the rising energy costs that burden residents. The discussion reveals the struggle against frequent power outages and the legal battles with bondholders, complicated further by past federal policies under Trump. Gonzalez also emphasizes the difficulties in transitioning to renewable energy amidst community resilience and management challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Daily Life in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Ricans face daily uncertainty about basic necessities like lighting and refrigeration due to an unreliable power grid.
- This impacts work, healthcare, education, and access to essential services, forcing communities to create makeshift solutions.
Political Fallout of the Energy Crisis
- Puerto Ricans are frustrated with politicians' unfulfilled promises about fixing the energy system.
- The unreliable grid has become a major political issue, even influencing election outcomes, such as the recent gubernatorial race.
PREPA's Debt Crisis
- Puerto Rico's electric utility, PREPA, faces massive debt, leading to a legal battle with bondholders.
- The bondholders demand repayment of over $12 billion, which could significantly increase already high energy prices for Puerto Ricans.