Executive Summary: March 10th PR Energy Week Community Action Challenge in Gurabo

Overview

Held on March 10th, 2026 at the Anfiteatro Argentina Hills at Universidad Ana G. Méndez (UAGM), seventy public and private industry leaders convened for the AEG Puerto Rico Energy Week Community Stakeholder. The purpose of this challenge was to: 1.) Align on a critical obstacle regarding energy, prosperity and resilience for Puerto Rico at the community level; 2.) Engage as cross sector teams to agree on a 90-day sprint and 12-month goal; 3.) Empower leaders to deliver the solution and present the outcome in 12 months.

Dr. Rolando García González, Dean of the School of Engineering, Design, and Architecture at UAGM provided opening remarks to help frame the discussion surrounding energy, prosperity and resilience for Puerto Rico. H.G. Chissell, Founder & CEO, Advanced Energy Group, and Loraima Jaramillo, Executive Director, PowerBridge Advisory were co-facilitators for the stakeholder challenge discussion.

The Opening Remarks were followed by the Speaker Challenge, where each speaker provided a presentation that concluded with this completed statement: "At the community level, to achieve energy, prosperity and resilience goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is _________."

5 Key Themes

1. Regaining Control Over Energy Costs

High and unpredictable energy costs remain a primary barrier to community prosperity. Data shows that 29% of participants identified the lack of control over these costs as a critical obstacle to overcome within the next 12 months. Stakeholders are seeking ways to mitigate dependence on imported fuels and leverage renewable energy to stabilize the economy.

"At the community level, to achieve energy prosperity and resilience goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is: our lack of control on energy costs." — Dr. Amaury Malavé Sanabria, Executive Director at Complejo de Innovación Tecnológica, UAGM

2. Bridging Agency Communication and Visibility

Effective emergency response is often hindered by fragmented information and misaligned lists of vulnerable populations. Achieving a "shared visibility" between utility operators, municipal governments, and health agencies is essential to ensure that life-sustaining resources reach those in need during a crisis.

"Lograr una visibilidad compartida entre agencias durante la respuesta a emergencias dentro de los marcos de ley establecidos." — Kermith Carrion, Key Account Manager, LUMA Energy

3. Shifting the Perception of Community Organizations

Community-based organizations often face the hurdle of being viewed as complications rather than assets. This theme emphasizes the need to demonstrate how distributed renewables and local "mutual-aid" responses are integral components of a functional, resilient energy grid.

"The misconception that we are part of the problem, by actively providing solutions." — Brenda Martinez, Sustainable and Community Energy Development Manager, Barrio Eléctrico

4. Addressing Bureaucracy and Permitting

Participants highlighted significant systemic friction in the form of "Bureaucracy," "Permitting," and "Regulation". Overcoming these administrative bottlenecks is viewed as essential for the physical infrastructure projects necessary to achieve community resilience.

"At the community level, to achieve energy, prosperity and resilience goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is... Permitting/Bureaucracy." — PREW26 Community Action Challenge Participants

5. Fostering Collaboration and Stakeholder Integration

The transition to a resilient energy future requires the active participation of diverse groups, including academia, software developers, and government agencies. Moving from "personal salvation" to a "collective path" ensures that the energy transformation is community-centered and equitable.

"Pioneers: clear the path by walking, for other non-profits and community-based organizations." — Brenda Martinez, Sustainable and Community Energy Development Manager, Barrio Eléctrico

Inspired by the statement provided by Brenda Martínez (Barrio Eléctrico), participants agreed to prioritize this selected obstacle statement: “The misconception that community distributed generation is part of the problem and not the solution.” Participants then designed, and pitched a 90-day sprint and 12-month goal to best address this critical obstacle.

15 leaders formed a volunteer Task Force to complete a 90-day sprint.

Task Force Volunteers: Fernando Padilla, CSA Group, Edwin Rivera Acevedo, DDEC, Kermith Carrion, LUMA, Hendrick Ramirez, LUMA, Lucas Barreto, Let’s Share the Sun Foundation, Wanda Ríos, Asociación de Residentes de La Margarita, Brenda Martínez, Barrio Eléctrico, Arturo García, Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña, Rolando Tremont-Brito, Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña, Adam Eberwein, EarthSpark International, Cámilie Rivera-Dueño, Empowered by Light, Abimarie Otaño Cruz, Environmental Defense Fund, Jay Hasty, MAXeta Energy, Loraine Torres-Castro, Sandia National Laboratories, David Ortiz, SUN

To join this group of volunteers, please contact us at info@goadvancedenergy.com.

Conclusion

The AEG Puerto Rico Energy Week 2026 Stakeholder Challenge convened academic leaders, utility managers, and community organizers to confront the structural barriers slowing the island’s energy transformation. The discussion underscored the urgency of mitigating dependence on imported energy, aligning fragmented interagency data for vulnerable populations, and correcting the misconception that community organizations are hurdles rather than essential solution providers.

Moving forward, stakeholders are advancing a 90-day sprint to establish shared visibility between LUMA, municipalities, and the Department of Health to protect life-dependent residents, while working toward a 12-month outcome of deploying a framework that recognizes community organizations as essential partners in providing roots-level energy solutions. This Challenge establishes a clear pathway for Puerto Rico to accelerate infrastructure solutions that safeguard public health through models like "Vecinos SOLidarios" and secure long-term energy prosperity.

Advanced Energy Group is a sponsor supported organization that facilitates quarterly challenges for high-impact stakeholders to deliver on health, energy and prosperity commitments for U.S. cities and vulnerable regions. To become an AEG Sponsor, learn more here: https://aeg.team/engage