Casa Pueblo pushes plan to turn rooftop solar owners into energy suppliers
By THE STAR STAFF
Community-based environmental organization Casa Pueblo has unveiled a proposal that would allow homeowners, businesses and community groups to sell excess solar power directly to Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, a move it says could lower electricity costs, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the island’s energy transition.
The initiative, dubbed Puerto Rico Pueblo Solar, calls for changes to the island’s net metering framework so that owners of residential and commercial solar installations can generate electricity beyond their own consumption needs and receive compensation for power supplied to the grid.
Under the proposal, distributed solar producers would be paid between 7 and 8 cents per kilowatt-hour through regulated power purchase agreements. Casa Pueblo argues that such a system would create a new energy marketplace while taking advantage of solar infrastructure that is already in place across the island.
“The distributed solar infrastructure exists, the technology is available and it can be installed quickly,” said Casa Pueblo Executive Director Arturo Massol Deyá in a written statement. “Our people have demonstrated their ability to invest, organize and produce electricity. What is needed is a regulatory and economic framework that expands that participation and recognizes citizens as key players in Puerto Rico’s energy generation.”
The organization noted that some 261,000 households in Puerto Rico currently have solar systems installed for self-consumption. Combined distributed solar capacity has reached about 1,456 megawatts, according to figures cited by Casa Pueblo.
That output exceeds the island’s methane gas generation capacity of 1,391 megawatts and far surpasses the 454 megawatts generated by coal-fired facilities, although it remains below the 3,671 megawatts attributed to petroleum-based generation, the group said, citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Casa Pueblo’s proposal would require LUMA Energy, or any future transmission and distribution operator, to purchase electricity from residential and commercial producers through an open and regulated market. The organization contends that the proposed compensation rate would be roughly 2.5 times lower than the current fuel adjustment charge, helping lower power costs without creating additional public debt.
Massol Deyá said the grid operator would need to modernize its infrastructure and interconnection procedures to accommodate a larger role for distributed generation.
“LUMA Energy, or any entity responsible for managing the electrical grid, must adapt its infrastructure, interconnection protocols and control systems to allow distributed generation to grow to its maximum potential,” he said.
Among other recommendations, Casa Pueblo proposes establishing a lower daytime electricity rate for all consumers, including those without solar panels or battery systems, by making greater use of solar energy generated during daylight hours.
The plan also seeks to expand access to renewable energy through community solar projects, energy cooperatives and revenue-sharing mechanisms that would allow households without suitable rooftops or sufficient financial resources to participate in solar generation.
In the longer term, the organization envisions public and private thermal power plants serving primarily as backup and emergency resources as distributed solar generation increases and fossil fuel consumption declines.
Casa Pueblo also contrasted its proposal with large-scale solar and wind projects, which it said generally sell power at between 16 and 21 cents per kilowatt-hour. The group questioned the use of agricultural land for utility-scale renewable developments, arguing that existing rooftops and urban spaces could provide a more efficient path forward.
“We are making available to the country the knowledge and expertise of the Community Laboratory for the Energy Transition to advance this conversation and implement the changes that are needed now,” Massol Deyá said. “This is not only about producing cheaper electricity. It is about building a stronger, safer, more participatory and democratic energy system, and Puerto Rico has the capacity to do it.”
Casa Pueblo said the full Puerto Rico Pueblo Solar proposal is available upon request through the organization.
