Executive Summary: March 12th PR Energy Week Municipal Action Challenge in Isabela

Overview

Held on March 12th, 2025 at the Oriana 1 Solar Park in Isabela, 60 community, government, utility, and task force leaders convened for 2025 AEG PR Energy Week Municipal Action Challenge. This workshop aimed to collaborate with select leaders to address the challenge of expanding equitable energy assistance and access to clean energy in underserved communities, coordinating next steps for team organization, and determining how to best benefit the community, with a focus on connecting with stakeholder groups, identifying funding opportunities, and planning for a 90-day sprint to bridge resource gaps.

H.G. Chissell (Advanced Energy Group), Leslie Hufstetler (Infinigen Renewables), and key municipal leaders opened the session, emphasizing the urgent need for community-driven solutions to energy security and infrastructure modernization.

Following these remarks, discussions were structured around three core focus areas: Public Engagement & Education, Grid Resilience, and Workforce Development. Mario Tomasini (Ciro Energy Group) led the Public Engagement & Education segment, advocating for fact-based communication and community involvement to drive energy adoption. 

Raphael Gignac (LUMA) provided insights on Grid Resilience, highlighting LUMA’s Accelerated Storage Addition Program (ASAP) as a model for fast-tracking battery storage deployment to stabilize the grid. Jonathan Diaz (LORD Construction) addressed Workforce Development, stressing the need for training programs and apprenticeships to equip local workers with the skills required for Puerto Rico’s large-scale renewable energy projects.

Inspired by the above remarks and goals of the task force, participants agreed to move forward with the below next 90-day sprint:

There are now 9 leaders who have committed to the Task Force to complete the above 90-day sprint and continue working towards the original critical obstacle.

Task Force Volunteers (some not pictured): Carlos Lopez, IBTS,  Jessica Hendrickson, Service Electric Co. Rebeca Maldonado, LUMA, Victor Oyola, Smith Garson, Naomi Betancourt, Nephtali Mercado, LUMA, Joseph Lopez, LUMA, Alvin Miranda Colon, DDEC

5 Key Themes

1. Public Engagement & Education
Effective communication and fact-based education are essential for driving public support and accelerating Puerto Rico’s clean energy transition. Community involvement and awareness campaigns can help overcome misinformation and resistance to renewable energy projects.

“At the municipal level, to achieve energy, equity, and resilience goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is providing fact-based, creative education and innovative communication strategies for the energy industry.” – Mario Tomasini, Ciro Energy Group

2. Accelerating Grid Resilience & Energy Storage
Deploying large-scale battery storage solutions is crucial for stabilizing Puerto Rico’s grid, reducing power outages, and ensuring reliability during peak demand periods. Expedited permitting and regulatory approvals will be key to scaling these initiatives.

“Puerto Rico needs fast implementation of renewable sources and out-of-the-box ideas for increased generation and energy efficiency programs. The Accelerated Storage Addition Program (ASAP) is designed to provide critical energy dispatch during peak demand hours.” – Raphael Gignac, LUMA

3. Workforce Development & Job Training
A skilled workforce is necessary to meet the growing demand for clean energy projects. Investing in technical training programs and apprenticeship opportunities will ensure local workers are prepared to support Puerto Rico’s energy transformation.

“At the municipal level, to achieve energy, equity, and resilience goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is the need for manpower for our jobs. This challenge is not about whether they know or do not know how to perform the tasks, as we will teach and train them to perform at their best for the benefit of Puerto Rico.” – Jonathan Diaz, LORD Construction

4. Policy & Regulatory Streamlining
Delays in permitting and regulatory approvals slow down critical infrastructure projects. Standardizing and expediting these processes will help accelerate renewable energy deployment and ensure compliance with Puerto Rico’s long-term energy goals.

“To meet energy resilience goals, a critical obstacle to overcome in 12 months is expediting local permitting and approval processes, while advocating for Investment Tax Credit (ITC) eligibility for Puerto Rican entities.” – Raphael Gignac, LUMA

5. Strategic Public-Private Partnerships
Collaboration between government agencies, private developers, and community organizations is essential for securing funding and ensuring the successful implementation of clean energy projects. Establishing strong partnerships will drive innovation and long-term sustainability.

“Most energy challenges can be addressed through strategic collaboration. We must stop finding problems with every solution and focus on proper communication, education, and incentives to move results.” – Mario Tomasini, Ciro Energy Group

Conclusion

The AEG PR Energy Week Municipal Action Challenge in Isabela united municipal leaders, energy experts, and community stakeholders to drive progress on equitable clean energy access and infrastructure resilience in Puerto Rico. Discussions centered on public outreach, workforce readiness, and grid stability, with a focus on enhancing education efforts, accelerating battery storage deployment, and expanding training programs to support the island’s growing renewable energy sector. As the Task Force advances its 90-day sprint to strengthen municipal energy education and workforce development, their collective efforts will be instrumental in fostering a more reliable and sustainable energy future for Puerto Rico.

For the list of participating stakeholders who are aligned on tackling this critical obstacle and next 90 day sprint, click here.