COAMO, PR – July 18, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development (RD) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) held a joint event, "Impacting Puerto Rico’s Rural Communities: Investing in Energy Resiliency," today at the Hollywood Theater in Coamo to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in Puerto Rico through the Rural Partners Network (RPN).
Please see a fact sheet of USDA’s investments in Puerto Rico in English and Spanish.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, USDA Rural Development Director of State Operations Deidre Deculus Robert, USDA Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity Cindy Axne, USDA Rural Development State Director for Puerto Rico Maximiliano J. Trujillo-Ortega, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Carmen Guerrero, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Caribbean Environmental Protection Division (CEPD) were in attendance at the event.
“The Biden-Harris Administration created the Rural Partners Network, a whole government approach to serving people in areas that have been historically underserved in the past, so they have the resources they need to thrive,” USDA Rural Development Director of State Operations Deidre Deculus Robert said. “USDA and the Rural Partners Network are proud to work with communities across Puerto Rico to bring good-paying jobs, infrastructure, and other opportunities that will keep the economy and quality of life on the island strong and resilient for generations to come.”
The event was hosted by the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network (RPN). Launched in April 2022, RPN is an all-of-government program that helps rural communities find resources and funding to create jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability and stability. Puerto Rico is one of 11 RPN communities nationwide.
“The Biden-Harris Administration knows energy access issues are top of mind in Puerto Rico’s rural communities, and I’m proud to work alongside our USDA partners to help build energy resilience throughout the region with priority given to those that need it most,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
In addition, the event illustrated USDA’s ongoing cooperation with DOE and EPA to provide reliable, renewable energy solutions to rural homeowners, small businesses, and farmers on the island thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s record investments in rural area clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act.
“For the EPA, it is crucial to collaborate with USDA Rural Development and the Federal Department of Energy to maximize the potential of historic federal investment for energy resilience provided by the Inflation Reduction Act,” said EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Director Carmen Guerrero. “The EPA has several federal funding programs to plan and implement renewable energy projects in Puerto Rico, such as the Solar For All Program, which allocated $156 million to the Office of Management and Budget to secure solar and storage projects in low-income communities. Additionally, the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program provides $1.87 billion to Inclusiv to work with credit unions in Puerto Rico to implement financing strategies for green and renewable energy projects in disadvantaged communities.”
Speakers at the event highlighted the collaborative efforts and investments made by USDA RD and DOE in Puerto Rico's rural areas through programs like the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Community Facilities (CF) Program and REAP Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program.
RD State Director Trujillo-Ortega highlighted that the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to improve the quality of life in Puerto Rico's archipelago through multi-agency cooperation is without precedent. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development has invested nearly $1.3 billion to promote long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural Puerto Rico.
“Among these important investments, we continue to help our farmers lower their energy costs- which is the case with the Vera Ramirez Corp,” said Trujillo-Ortega. “This REAP funding of $15,284 will support enhancing the agricultural production of oranges, plantains, bananas and coffee. The grant will further enable this farmer to provide high quality produce, contributing to the community’s food security.”
During the event, USDA officials highlighted additional investments including:
- Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested $6 million in 31 projects through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Though these projects, REAP help agricultural producers and rural small business owners in Puerto Rico make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, strengthen their operations, and recover quickly when disasters strike.
- USDA’s Community Facilities Program (CF) has awarded nearly $18 million to 24 projects in Puerto Rico. For example, Educational Services Corpus Christi Corp was awarded a grant of $67,000 to acquire solar panels and battery backup equipment. The applicant contribution to the project was $54,990 for a total investment of $121,990. This project reduces the school operating expenses and makes this institution energy sustainable.
- Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, USDA has invested $164.7 million to help 1,413 Puerto Rican farmers in financial distress stay on their land and overcome challenges beyond their control, like COVID-19, natural disasters, and global supply chain disruptions.
- USDA is investing in opportunities for farmers to process, aggregate, and distribute their products to provide more options for both producers and consumers, and to make the food system more resilient and less reliant on limited options. Puerto Rico has received $8 million through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program, over $18 million through the Local Food Purchase Agreement Program, and over $4 million through the Resilient Food System Infrastructure Program to support these efforts.
- The new Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot (FLSP) Program awarded $800,000 to Puerto Rican agricultural employers. The grant funding will strengthen the resiliency of our food supply chain by addressing labor challenges and instability in agriculture, promoting a safe and healthy work environment with stronger protections for workers, and expanding lawful pathways for labor migration.
- In Fiscal Year 2023, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provided $19.2 million to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to helping producers enroll in conservation programs, NRCS provided technical assistance to producers interested in better understanding the implementation of conservation practices. Funding for these efforts came from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the Farm Bill.
About USDA Rural Development:
USDA Rural Development is committed to improving the economy and quality of life in rural America. Through a variety of programs, USDA RD helps rural residents buy homes, finance essential infrastructure and facilities, and create jobs through business development.
About the Department of Energy:
The Department of Energy's mission is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
About Enviromental Protection Agency:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to safeguard human health and the environment. The EPA sets and enforces environmental laws, conducts environmental assessments, and provides technical support to minimize threats and support recovery planning.
In addition to these investments, we have participated in 27 Rural Energy for America Technical Assistance Grant Program (REAP) projects:
- Agro Bosque LLC
- Air System Designs LLC
- All Fuel, Inc.
- Asador Don Pablo LLC
- Caribbean Produce Exchange LLC
- Centro de Terrazos y Azulejos Inc.
- Emporios Soto, Inc.
- Fame LLC
- Farmacia B. Rios Inc.
- Farmacia del Pueblo VEH, Inc.
- Farmacia Los Reyes LLC
- Farmacia San Rafael, Inc.
- Garcia’s Machine Shop, Inc.
- Gonzalez Contractors Power Corp.
- Grupo Ausubo Inc
- H.A. LLC
- Hector L. Carmona Resto
- Hotel Colombus Atlantis Beach Restaurant
- Jack Packaging Corp
- JR Petroleum Corp
- Karla Furniture Manufacturing, Inc.
- Luz D Robles
- Master Products Corp.
- MSN Transport, Inc.
- Seguros Jose Perez Labiosa, Inc.
- Supermercado Plaza Borinquen Aguadilla
- Vera Ramirez, Corp.
And 2 REAP Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG) projects:
- Pathstone Enterprise Center, Inc.
- Fundación Americounsel, Corp.
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