Fondo de Resiliencia Energética de Puerto Rico
Background on the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund
On February 21, 2023, the Grid Deployment Office launched the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) to support Puerto Rico’s grid resilience efforts. After recent natural disasters and decades of underinvestment in the electric grid, this fund is being developed in consultation with local entities and communities to increase energy reliability and reduce the energy burden of vulnerable residents. The PR-ERF is funded by the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act and managed by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) in consultation with the Federal Energy Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
DOE and Solar Ambassadors from the Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña celebrate the installation of a residential solar and battery storage system in Jayuya, Puerto Rico.
Quick Links
- Selectees Press Release (11/29/2023)
- Selectees Press Release (11/2/2023)
- FOA Press Release (7/31/2023)
- Frequently Asked Questions
First Round Funding Opportunity Announcement
(DE-FOA-0003096)
On July 31, 2023, GDO released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $450 million to support residential rooftop solar and battery storage installations and offer consumer protection and education resources. Through this deployment-focused funding, DOE aims to incentivize the installation of roughly 30,000–40,000 residential solar and battery systems for Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable households. DOE will identify and enroll households through the Programa Acceso Solar (Solar Access Program).
In November 2023, GDO announced the selectees for this FOA, including solar companies, nonprofits and cooperatives to begin negotiations for up to $440 million to install residential solar systems, as well as two nonprofits to support households with education, training, and consumer protection for these systems.
Quick Links
In February 2024, DOE launched the Programa Acceso Solar (Solar Access Program) to connect low-income Puerto Rican households with subsidized residential solar and battery storage systems. This initiative is funded through Topic Area 1 of the PR-ERF FOA.
Residents of Puerto Rico can visit energy.gov/solarPR to check their eligibility and identify their local Solar Ambassador.
Residents may be eligible for the Programa Acceso Solar if they fit all three of the following criteria:
1. They are low-income, as demonstrated by enrollment in one of the following government assistance programs:
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
- Plan de Salud Vital
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- USDA’s Section 502 Direct Loan Program
- USDA’s Section 504 Home Repair Program
2. They own the single-family home in which they currently reside.
3. And EITHER: A resident of their household relies on an electricity or battery-dependent medical device due to a medical condition or disability OR their address is eligible for an installation. Instructions for confirming address eligibility are available on energy.gov/SolarPR.
Solar Ambassador Prize
To ensure that the FOA selectees can quickly deploy solar and battery systems where they are most needed, the Solar Ambassador Prize is a complementary competitive funding opportunity for organizations in Puerto Rico to assist DOE in identifying, engaging, and assisting with intake processing of qualifying households for residential solar and battery installations.
In November 2023, DOE announced that it will award a total of $3.85 million to up to 16 community organizations selected to assist in this work.
Learn more about the recipients of the Solar Ambassador Prize.
Additional Links
- Sign up for our newsletter to stay current with the latest news from GDO’s Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team.
- Learn more about GDO’s Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization efforts.