Puerto Rico begins another year plagued by widespread power outages

An island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve left Puerto Ricans navigating darkness, highlighting ongoing issues with a privatized, fragile energy grid that has yet to recover from Hurricane Maria’s devastation.

Gautama Mehta reports for Grist.

In short:

Puerto Rico experienced a massive blackout on December 31, affecting over 1.2 million households, with some areas left without power for most of the day.
Privatized energy operators LUMA Energy and New Fortress Energy have raised prices despite frequent outages, sparking public frustration and protest movements.
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón acknowledged the grid’s fragile state as another rate hike took effect on January 1, 2025.

Key quote:

“Our electrical system is in such a precarious situation that anything can cause the power to go out.”

— Jenniffer González-Colón, Puerto Rico governor

Why this matters:

Years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s unreliable grid continues to disrupt daily life and economic recovery. Privatization efforts have led to higher costs without improving service, leaving residents vulnerable to power failures and extreme weather.

grist.org

Puerto Rico begins another year plagued by widespread power outages

Global warming will exceed limit, UN says in a report that maps path to get back below danger zone

The Amazon’s defenders declare a state of emergency

The US built more grid batteries last quarter than ever before

As Ohio grapples with fake comments on clean energy, some want crackdown

Private gas plants to power data centers would skirt Nevada’s renewable energy law

US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

Canadian oil executives’ stock holdings increased by over $1B amid war and wildfires

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.