Under the proposal, EcoEléctrica BESS will design and construct the storage facility in Peñuelas, with a contract term of 20 years from its commercial operation date and the possibility of two five‑year extensions subject to the approval of the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau. By THE STAR STAFF The Financial Oversight and Management Board has approved, with conditions, a proposed contract between the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and EcoEléctrica BESS LLC for the dev

“LUMA has been paid everything it is owed and everything that was contracted with them, to the point that a payment of more than $900 million for their services has been certified,” Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said at a press conference in Vega Baja. By THE STAR STAFF Gov. Jenniffer González Colón lashed out on Thursday against the executives of the LUMA Energy consortium for stating to the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) that power outages and the time without service for

Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard By THE STAR STAFF Puerto Rico’s economy continued to expand toward the end of 2025, supported by stronger cement sales, gasoline consumption and nonfarm payroll employment, according to the latest Economic Activity Index (EAI) figures released by the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish). “The most recent results of the Economic Activity Index confirm that the econ

According to LUMA Energy, the shift away from preventive work contributed to a 16.2% increase in the System Average Interruption Duration Index, and a 3.3% increase in the System Average Interruption Frequency Index. (Facebook via LUMA Energy) By THE STAR STAFF LUMA Energy, the private operator of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system, told the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau that ongoing financial constraints are limiting its ability to ma

Rep. Jerry Nieves Rosario By THE STAR STAFF District 13 (Manatí, Florida, Barceloneta and Arecibo) Rep. Jerry Nieves Rosario, who chairs the Northern Region Committee, has introduced Puerto Rico House Bill 1061 to create the “Puerto Rico Health Data Protection and Online Children’s Privacy Act.” “It is time to establish strict prohibitions on the use of geofencing around healthcare facilities for data collection or targeted advertising, mandate high-level default privacy sett

By THE STAR STAFF The Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel (OPFEI by its initials in Spanish) has accepted a recommendation from Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres to appoint a special independent prosecutor to investigate alleged misconduct related to a bonus given to workers by Jessika Padilla Rivera, who served as acting chairwoman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission (SEC). The preliminary inquiry began after the Office of Management and Budget

Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez Also addresses public health concerns By THE STAR STAFF Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, along with Rep. Pedro Julio “Pelle” Santiago Guzmán, announced the filing on Wednesday of House Bill (HB) 1070, which prohibits the sale of vaporizers, liquid substance or cartridge with flavor and/or aroma other than nicotine for use in ‘vaping’ devices to min

Puerto Rican Independence Party Rep. Adriana Gutiérrez Colón opposed Senate Bill 923, a measure that amends Puerto Rico’s Penal Code to recognize a fetus at any stage of gestation as a human being for specific homicide‑related provisions, warning that similar laws in U.S. states have led to more than 400 criminal prosecutions of pregnant women for miscarriages or substance use during pregnancy. By THE STAR STAFF The island House of Representatives has approved Senate Bill 923

Municipal Revenue Collections Center Executive Director Javier García Cintrón By THE STAR STAFF The Municipal Revenue Collections Center (CRIM by its acronym in Spanish) is reminding taxpayers that they have until Feb. 2 to pay their real property taxes with a 10% discount. After that date, taxpayers will still be able to receive a 5% discount through March 2. Once that period ends, no additional discounts will apply, and taxpayers will be required to pay the full amount bill

Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto (Facebook via Senado Puerto Rico) By THE STAR STAFF In response to the chronic problems associated with a lack of drinking water service that have for years plagued residents of the Arrozal neighborhood in Arecibo’s Los Muertos sector, Arecibo District Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto has filed Senate Resolution (SR) 413 with the purpose of investigating the management of Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) operations in the island’s northern region. The Los Mue