Projects in Puerto Rico
27 projects completed
Empowered by Light began doing projects in Puerto Rico just two weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017. The people of Puerto Rico continue to face extreme weather exacerbated by climate change. While many parts of the island were still recovering from the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Maria, the pandemic hit bringing the island's tourism industry to a standstill and threatening food security. In 2022, Hurricane Fiona destroyed bridges and flooded communities.
EBL remains committed to supporting the people of Puerto Rico, and we continue to help the island's communities build resiliency using solar and energy storage systems. To date our projects in there include:
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11 fire stations, so first responders can continue serving their communities,
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6 community resiliency centers, so families have a place to gather for meals and to distribute emergency supplies,
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2 low-income elderly care homes, so this particularly vulnerable population can continue to receive critical care,
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2 children's homes, so formerly abused children don't have to be in the dark again,
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3 farming cooperatives, so they can provide food for more families during and outside of natural disasters,
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1 mobile power unit, so power can be delivered to where it's needed most,
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1 direct services organization providing meals daily to some of the most vulnerable people on Vieques, and
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A solar workforce development program helping address the growing demand for solar installers on the island.
Here are a few highlights of our work in Puerto Rico.
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Photos of Portal de Amor Children's Home in San Gérman, on the west side of the island of Puerto Rico. This project was done with the generous support of Sunnova Energy and WindMar Foundation.
COREFI is a nonprofit located on the island of Vieques, 60 miles east of the main island of Puerto Rico. COREFI provides meals on a daily basis to the island's most vulnerable people many of whom are home- and/or bed-ridden.
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Naguabo and Adjuntas fire stations are two of the 11 fire stations we've supported with reliable solar power and battery storage so they can continue serving their communities during grid outages.
Our partners for our projects in Puerto Rico include MCS Foundation, Sunnova Energy, Sunrun, WindMar Foundation, Canadian Solar, Greentech Renewables, Aireko Energy Group, Para la Naturaleza, Casa Pueblo, Estuario, Footprint Project, the Kresge Foundation, Electric Planet Foundation, and Cypress Creek Renewables, as well as hundreds of individuals.
In addition to supporting the island's critical infrastructure, our projects demonstrate that restoring power to devastated areas with renewable energy technology can happen quickly and create better resilience for future extreme weather events.
BUT we need your help. We want to continue supporting the people of Puerto Rico who are literally living on the frontlines of climate change, by helping them prepare for a more just and resilient energy future. Your donations will help us achieve that goal.
Join Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo in helping us build more resilient communities with renewable, reliable solar energy systems for more community centers, more elderly care homes, and schools, and local farming cooperatives to reduce the island's dependency on imported food.
Make a real difference to the lives of the people of Puerto Rico, and help them be better prepared and protected for the 2020 hurricane season and beyond.
Inspired by our work in Puerto Rico? A simple share on social media will help spread the word and perhaps find new supporters. Or you can donate now to create more projects like these.