From June 16th to June 20th, 2025, ๐๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ Clean Energy Fellow ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ป๐ attended the ๐ฃ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, hosted by fellows at Cooperativa Hidroelectrica de la Montana.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ป๐ participated in a 4-day immersive summit, visiting communities facing energy insecurity and learning about some renewable energy solutions to Puerto Ricoโs grid challenges. This conference brought together 36 young energy professionals from the Department of Energyโs ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ to learn about different types of energy generation, including rooftop solar, onshore winds, and hydroelectric systems. The participants were able to learn about the history and current state of Puerto Ricoโs energy crisis through on-site tours from community leaders, utility providers, and system operators.
โPuerto Rico is an island territory of the United States, nearly 4,000 miles away from Humboldt, with its own unique energy challenges and history of colonization. Despite this, many shared experiences and lessons are relevant to rural Tribal communities on the North Coast of California. An aging grid, transmission that traverses densely forested mountain ranges, extreme weather events, landslides, and disproportionate energy burdens placed upon low-income and rural communities are among the top challenges both regions are grappling with today.โ -๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ป๐
๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ are a leading solution to these complex issues, as they provide increased adaptability and capacity during power outage events. Underserved communities such as ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ, ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ, and ๐๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ have embraced microgrid technology. The shift towards microgrid technology has helped ๐๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ in building community resilience through innovative, self-sufficient energy solutions.
Originally Published: 6/26/2025