They reiterated the importance of protecting access to solar energy during a visit by the Federal Secretary of Energy to the Puerto Rican metropolis

Against the backdrop of federal Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s visit to Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Solar Energy and Storage Association (SESA) reiterated the importance of protecting Puerto Ricans’ access to solar energy.

“Witnessing the realization of solar systems for low-income families gives them peace of mind, well-being, and energy stability, which is exactly what we want to protect,” said Javier Rúa Jovet, Director of Public Policy at SESA. “Data from a recent study conducted by SESA shows that the adoption of solar energy is high among low-income people in Puerto Rico. That is why the Net Metering program must be protected, as we need our people to have affordable alternatives to protect themselves from any power outages. Puerto Rico needs Net Metering to continue to guide the transition to renewable energy in line with public energy policy.”

The net metering program was established under Law No. 114 of 2007 to help consumers purchase solar energy systems for their homes and businesses.

A recent study conducted by SESA titled “The Impact of Devaluing Puerto Rico’s Net Metering Policy” provides the first analysis of the income distribution of net metered solar systems installed on the island and quantifies the impact of eliminating or reducing net metering in Puerto Rico, with a particular focus on lower-income Puerto Rican households.

One of the study’s most important conclusions shows that eliminating or reducing net metering would disproportionately harm the most vulnerable households and communities, as the number of households with access to solar power in Puerto Rico would fall by 69,000 to 197,000 by 2030.

Michael Juarbe, chairman of the SESA board of directors, stressed the importance of the Solar Access Program working with the Puerto Rico Solar Company Network to enable more households on the island to use solar systems. “Through the Solar Access Program and the public policies of the Puerto Rican government, including net metering, we are not only supporting energy stability for beneficiaries, but also helping to reduce energy loads on the electric system,” he said.

The Acceso Solar Program, funded by the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF), is designed to provide solar PV systems and battery storage systems to low-income households at no charge, as well as provide education and support on how to use and maintain the solar PV and battery storage systems.