Solar Energy Resilience Funding For Puerto Rico

• DOE has announced winners of its PR-ERF funding to install rooftop solar and storage systems in Puerto Rico 
• The 3 companies selected, with existing workforce in the island, are Generac Power Systems, Sunnova and Sunrun 
• 5 qualified nonprofits too have made the cut to install these systems for vulnerable households 

Generac Power Systems, Sunnova Energy Corporation and Sunrun have won $400 million funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the latter's Puerto Rico Resilience Fund (PR-ERF).  

It will support the deployment of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) for vulnerable households in the Caribbean island region. The 3 companies selected have an existing workforce in Puerto Rico. 

Additionally, the department has selected 5 qualified nonprofits and cooperatives in Puerto Rico for $40 million. These are identified as Barrio Eléctrico, Comunidad Solar Toro Negro, Environmental Defense Fund, Let's Share the Sun Foundation, and Solar United Neighbors. 

The DOE will begin award negotiations with the winners to deploy residential solar panels with storage for up to 30,000 to 40,000 low-income, single-family households. 

The Department had earlier this year announced over $453 million funding opportunity under PR-ERF which has a cumulative budget of $1 billion (see Expanding Rooftop Solar Access In Puerto Rico). 

"With this announcement, we take a critical step forward in our efforts to ensure that all Puerto Rico residents have reliable electricity, especially the most vulnerable families and communities for whom a lack of power can be life or death," said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. 

By the end of 2023, the department said it will announce the selectees for the Solar Ambassador Prize and the remaining $10 million under the PR-ERF funding opportunity to be used for education, training and consumer protection for qualified households.