Resident Commissioner and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Seek Answers on Decision to Reject Energy Emergency Bid for Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-P.R.) and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark E. Green (R-Tenn.) sent a joint bipartisan letter to the United States Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau requesting urgent clarification regarding the recent decision to disqualify from a bidding process the installation of temporary power generation barges in Puerto Rico.

The proposed barges, intended for deployment in Salinas and Guayanilla, were designed to help alleviate the island’s persistent energy generation shortfall—especially critical as the region braces for hurricane season. Despite their potential to offer short-term relief, reports indicate that the companies that made this proposal were rejected following interagency consultations. Similarly, questions have arisen regarding the lobbying firms involved in the bidding process and the disqualification of other companies.

“The people of Puerto Rico deserve transparency and urgency when it comes to restoring and safeguarding their electrical grid,” said Hernández. “Given the island’s ongoing energy crisis, federal and local officials involved in the decision must clearly explain why an emergency solution was denied and what alternative options, if any, are being considered to meet the demand.”

In the letter, the Resident Commissioner and Chairman Green posed a series of questions to determine the basis and process for the decision, including:

• The specific concerns or regulatory barriers that led to the rejection;
• Whether third-party assessments or risk analyses were reviewed;
• Which agencies or stakeholders were consulted and what findings emerged;
• And whether private or other relevant actors lobbied against the deployment of the barges.

The lawmakers requested responses by June 12, 2025, emphasizing the need for swift coordination and accountability across federal and local agencies.

“Emergency power solutions shouldn’t be a political issue—they’re a matter of public safety. That is why I joined forces with Republican Chairman Mark Green to ensure that the people of Puerto Rico do not face bureaucratic delays when lives and livelihoods are at stake.” added Hernández. 

Click HERE to read the joint bipartisan letter authored by the Resident Commissioner and Chairman Green.

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