Floor SpeechCeremonial2025-03-26

PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS

TaxesEnvironmentForeign Policy

Context

On 2025-03-26, Representative Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) delivered a floor speech titled "PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, foreign policy.

Full Text

PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1282-H1283] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS (Mr. Hernandez of Puerto Rico was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, last Friday, I opened my district office in Caguas, Puerto Rico. I had about 10 other colleagues join me, and when I finished my speech and turned to greet my constituents, the power went out. I won't lie, my immediate reaction was not all that negative. I was sort of glad that it happened while my colleagues were there so that they could see the reality that many Puerto Ricans live with on a daily basis. Now, I am afraid that that reality is about to get a lot worse. The power companies in charge of generation and distribution of energy in the island have warned us that there will be a severe generation deficit between May and October due to a major generation unit's breakdown. As a result, we might face up to 125 selective power outages during that time. Last year, the average client faced about 10 hours without power due to these selective outages. This year, it is expected to be a lot worse. Pause and think about that: 125 blackouts over 6 months in the United States of America. That isn't and shouldn't be normal. The government of Puerto Rico has a plan A. First, demand that Genera PR, the company in charge of generation, fix the broken power plants before May. An alternative is that we get barges and land units to generate temporary electricity to meet the height and demand during the summer. I will do what I can to support the government's efforts to address this challenge. I have already urged President Trump to declare a Federal emergency to support Puerto Rico's electric [[Page H1283]] grid crisis, and I have told the power companies that I am willing to support their requests for temporary generation units. However, I also believe that the government needs a plan B in case all of this fails. The government needs to prepare the people of Puerto Rico for the possibility that power will go out virtually every day during this summer. What can the government do? It can demand that utility companies be transparent about their planned interruptions so that the people know what to expect and can plan accordingly. It can educate and incentivize less energy consumption to prevent the need for these selective outages. It can begin preparing vulnerable populations and providers of essential services with backup sources and energy assistance. I want it to be clear that the current government is not responsible for the energy generation crisis, but it will be responsible for how it handles it. The government must be brave and honest with the people, not laid back and blindly optimistic because it views LUMA, the distribution company, and Genera, the generation company, as ultimately responsible. The government must care not about who gets the blame for the problem but about actually addressing the problem. We must prepare before it is too late. Failure to prepare will have unfortunate consequences. Honoring the Life of Cirilo Tirado Delgado Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I also rise to honor the life of Cirilo Tirado Delgado, who passed away last week, a few days shy of his 90th birthday. Mr. Tirado was a respected public servant, educator, and attorney in the great Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He served in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1973 to 1984, worked in the executive branch from 1984 to 1988, and returned to the legislature as a senator from 1988 to 1996. After that, he practiced law in the town of Guayama. I extend my condolences to his window, children, and grandchildren. May he rest in peace. ____________________

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PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1282-H1283] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PUERTO RICO'S ENERGY CRISIS (Mr. Hernandez of Puerto Rico was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, last Friday, I opened my district office in Caguas, Puerto Rico. I had about 10 other colleagues join me, and when I finished my speech and turned to greet my constituents, the power went out. I won't lie, my immediate reaction was not all that negative. I was sort of glad that it happened while my colleagues were there so that they could see the reality that many Puerto Ricans live with on a daily basis. Now, I am afraid that that reality is about to get a lot worse. The power companies in charge of generation and distribution of energy in the island have warned us that there will be a severe generation deficit between May and October due to a major generation unit's breakdown. As a result, we might face up to 125 selective power outages during that time. Last year, the average client faced about 10 hours without power due to these selective outages. This year, it is expected to be a lot worse. Pause and think about that: 125 blackouts over 6 months in the United States of America. That isn't and shouldn't be normal. The government of Puerto Rico has a plan A. First, demand that Genera PR, the company in charge of generation, fix the broken power plants before May. An alternative is that we get barges and land units to generate temporary electricity to meet the height and demand during the summer. I will do what I can to support the government's efforts to address this challenge. I have already urged President Trump to declare a Federal emergency to support Puerto Rico's electric [[Page H1283]] grid crisis, and I have told the power companies that I am willing to support their requests for temporary generation units. However, I also believe that the government needs a plan B in case all of this fails. The government needs to prepare the people of Puerto Rico for the possibility that power will go out virtually every day during this summer. What can the government do? It can demand that utility companies be transparent about their planned interruptions so that the people know what to expect and can plan accordingly. It can educate and incentivize less energy consumption to prevent the need for these selective outages. It can begin preparing vulnerable populations and providers of essential services with backup sources and energy assistance. I want it to be clear that the current government is not responsible for the energy generation crisis, but it will be responsible for how it handles it. The government must be brave and honest with the people, not laid back and blindly optimistic because it views LUMA, the distribution company, and Genera, the generation company, as ultimately responsible. The government must care not about who gets the blame for the problem but about actually addressing the problem. We must prepare before it is too late. Failure to prepare will have unfortunate consequences. Honoring the Life of Cirilo Tirado Delgado Mr. HERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I also rise to honor the life of Cirilo Tirado Delgado, who passed away last week, a few days shy of his 90th birthday. Mr. Tirado was a respected public servant, educator, and attorney in the great Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He served in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1973 to 1984, worked in the executive branch from 1984 to 1988, and returned to the legislature as a senator from 1988 to 1996. After that, he practiced law in the town of Guayama. I extend my condolences to his window, children, and grandchildren. May he rest in peace. ____________________