With first 2 bills, governor expands power to diversify energy sources under the law

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed her first two bills submitted to the island Legislature on Wednesday, seeking to transform the energy system. With her signature, the governor fulfills her commitment to establish a coherent energy policy and legislation to ensure it is tailored to the island’s reality.

The elimination of intermediate renewable energy goals, while maintaining the 100% renewable energy goal by 2050, will allow the Puerto Rico government to flex its muscles and approve conversions of current generating plants, including coal-fired generation, to cleaner sources such as natural gas and hydrogen, the governor noted.

Act 1-2025 (House Bill 267) updates renewable energy goals, eliminating difficult-to-meet intermediate goals to allow for a realistic and affordable transition. This was a recommendation agreed upon by all sectors, González Colón said.

The legal requirement to meet intermediate goals has made it impossible for the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau to accommodate cleaner and more cost-efficient generation sources as a transition measure toward the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. This, in turn, has made it difficult to replace generating plants with cheaper and cleaner fuels, such as combined cycle, natural gas, and hydrogen.

It also extends coal-fired power generation until December 2032. This form of generation represents 25% of Puerto Rico’s energy demand. Currently, the island does not have an alternative energy source to replace this generation that is reliable, non-intermittent, and affordable for our people, the governor said. This change in public energy policy provides the necessary flexibility to approve new generation projects, eliminate the obstacles that impede an effective transformation of our energy portfolio, and adapt public policy to the reality of Puerto Rico, she said.

The bills are the result of the five meetings the governor has held since last December with her Committee for the Energy Transformation of Puerto Rico, composed of representatives from the public and private sectors, which received presentations from across the island’s energy sector.

The governor also, with Act 2-2025 (HB 268), fulfilled her promise to oversee public-private Partnership contracts with LUMA and Genera PR, by increasing the fines that the Energy Bureau can impose on operators for noncompliance.