PUERTO RICO AND FEDERAL PARTNERS UNITE TO ADDRESS POWER RESTORATION
NEEDS
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230425/puerto-rico-and-federal-partners-unite-address-power-restoration-needs]


Release Date: 
10월 17, 2017 

Over the next several months, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
(PREPA), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department
of Energy, and private industry will unite to restore emergency power
to Puerto Rico’s electric grid, which was heavily damaged by
hurricanes Irma and Maria. Currently, only 14 percent of Puerto Rico
has electricity.

PREPA and federal partners have four primary goals: to provide
temporary emergency power and spot generation for critical facilities
like hospitals, shelters, and schools; ensuring the adequate
generation of power to the power plants and water pumping stations;
and to ultimately rebuild permanent transmission lines across Puerto
Rico and distribution lines to businesses and residential areas.

USACE recently awarded a $35.1 million contract to Weston Solutions
for two generators that will provide a combined 50 MW of temporary
power stability to the San Juan metropolitan area. The generators
arrived on October 13 and are being installed at the Palo Seco power
plant in San Juan, with a projected operation date of October 25.
USACE also awarded a $240 million contract to Fluor Corporation for
personnel and equipment needed to augment current restoration
activities.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Puerto Rico $336.2
million in Public Assistance funding to assist in the emergency work
and debris removal to aid the power restoration effort.

Federal Partners are actively assessing critical facilities such as
hospitals, shelters, and schools. To date, USACE has completed more
than 460 generator assessments, 359 generator inspections, 106
temporary generator installations, and are in the process of
installing an additional 36 temporary generators.

In addition, USACE placed an initial $115 million order for supplies
and materials that includes more than 50 thousand poles, which are a
mixture of concrete, galvanized steel and wood, and 6,500 miles of
cable that will be used for power transmission and distribution.

Puerto Rico has 2,400 miles of transmission lines and 30,000 miles of
distribution lines with 300 sub-stations across the island. An
estimated 80 percent of the power grid was damaged during hurricanes
Irma and Maria. Many challenges arise in the reinstallation and repair
of transmission lines, including inclimate weather, mountainous
terrain, unstable ground, and road closures.

###

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