Governor files first 3 administration bills

Two concern island’s energy

transformation, the other addresses construction-environmental

tensions in La Parguera

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón (Facebook via Governor Jenniffer González Colón)

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Wednesday that she will submit her first three administration bills to the Legislature, including one that has the goal of legalizing structures in the seaside La Parguera sector of Lajas, the home of one of the island’s three bio bays.

The La Parguera measure comes after Designated Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Waldemar Quiles amended an order that had collectively legalized structures in La Parguera to say that each case will be evaluated separately.

ining Officers and Administrative Judges are ordered, after the required procedures and in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Regulations of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Rules of Procedure for Administrative Hearings of the Environmental Quality Board, to evaluate the applicability of the provisions of this Administrative Order to the particular circumstances of each case under their consideration and, if they deem it appropriate, order the filing of the cases related to the provisions established in this Administrative Order to become academic,” the order notes.

The La Parguera measure aims to resolve the legal uncertainties surrounding existing structures and residences in the sector -- where a property owned by the governor’s in-laws was the subject of a complaint filed with the DNER -- ensuring their alignment with environmental conservation.

The other two measures are based on recommendations from the Committee for the Energy Transformation of Puerto Rico. The first bill proposes a realistic work plan to achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy generation by 2050. The proposal removes intermediate targets that are likely unachievable, and which currently drive up electricity costs for consumers. Additionally, the date for banning coal burning has been postponed to allow time for a transition away from this energy source before it is phased out.

By implementing the amendments, the reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation could be significantly reduced and eventually eliminated. Cleaner energy sources, such as liquefied natural gas, which are currently disregarded due to intermediate targets, could be utilized. This would ensure the stability of the electricity system and sufficient generation capacity to meet consumer demand at reasonable costs, according to the measure.

The second bill aims to amend Article 6.36 of Law 57-2014, known as the “Energy Transformation and Relief Law,” to increase the fines that the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) can impose and to streamline their collection. The goal is to enhance the oversight authority of the PREB over its regulated entities, allowing it to impose more effective punitive sanctions. Furthermore, the PREB would have the power to seize any debt owed to a regulated party by any agency or entity of the central government to facilitate the collection of fines.

Continuing the efforts made by the Legislative Assembly in 2016, the governor’s third measure -- the La Parguera bill -- addresses the ongoing legal issues related to the existing structures and residences of the sector. The bill seeks to harmonize the structures’ presence with environmental conservation while also establishing a fee structure for the use of public land and waters. The proceeds from those fees would be allocated for the benefit of the environment and the La Parguera community.