Hernández Statement on U.S. Secretary of Energy’s Visit to Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Pablo José Hernández, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, issued the following statement on Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s visit to Puerto Rico following the massive blackout on New Year’s Eve in the archipelago.

“Puerto Rico's energy crisis is a critical priority for me, and I appreciate the efforts of the Administration and Secretary Granholm to address this issue. I regret not being able to accompany her on this trip due to my official obligations in Washington, but I promise to continue working with my colleagues to solve this crisis,” said Hernández.

Hernández, who was in Puerto Rico at the moment of the recent energy blackout, informed members of Congress on December 31 of the situation – days before swearing in. He later attended the White House and spoke directly with President Biden about the energy crisis. The Resident Commissioner continues to be in close contact with key partners in Congress and the Administration to identify concrete solutions to the crisis, such as increasing EPA’s temporary generation of 350 megawatts from 33% to 100%, or accelerating vegetation removal, which faces significant delays to the National Environmental Policy Act’s restrictions.

As Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Hernández has said he will prioritize the island’s energy crisis, economic development, and parity of federal benefits for Puerto Rico, so that individuals, small businesses, and the entire archipelago can thrive.

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