Public housing agency to install microgrids in 336 communities

Francisco Rullán, energy affairs officer at the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (LinkedIn)

By The Star Staff

Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (AVP by its initials in Spanish) Energy Affairs Officer Francisco Rullán said Thursday that the agency is launching a project aimed at improving energy efficiency and resiliency across 336 communities in Puerto Rico.

The idea of the initiative, which is currently in a 12-month planning phase, is to increase efficiency, resilience and renewable-energy adoption in public housing, leading to four years of projects.

Rullán made his remarks during the Energy Week conference held at the La Concha Hotel, which gathered industry leaders.

The program will be financed with federal and state funds. The program will cost $142.5 million in total. About $50 million is to be provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $83.2 million by the federal Energy Department and $9.3 million by the Public Housing Administration.

Some of the key initiatives include launching a request for proposals to establish guidelines for reducing energy consumption. The plan also entails the installation of 100 solar installations, including 50-kilowatt (KW) DC solar systems with 500 KW-hours of battery storage, 60 KW emergency diesel generators, and solar security and lighting in all structures.

The goal is to lay the groundwork for future microgrids that will support public housing communities and the electrical grid.

Some of the challenges in the planning process have been establishing program management procedures; hiring professionals for project oversight; navigating permit and regulatory requirements; interconnection with the grid (in a LUMA-expedited process); recruiting engineers and designers for 100 installation sites; managing federal bidding and procurement; and adapting to changes in federal policy, such as the aluminum tariffs ordered by President Trump.

The benefits of solar and storage facilities for public housing include energy conservation, efficiency, and renewables; the creation of jobs; a 30% decrease in solar and electrical improvement costs; 25% savings on installations and fewer inspection failures; and a 30-megawatt battery energy storage system, known as BESS, for peak hours.

Rullán said the AVP’s energy plan focuses on integrating solar power, storage and microgrids to improve resilience, reduce costs and create a more sustainable future for Puerto Rico’s public housing communities.