President Trump on Tuesday said the federal government will fully pay for recovery assistance to Puerto Rico, which senior utility industry officials praised as a necessary step in helping to restore the island’s nearly completely destroyed electric grid.
“We thank President Trump for authorizing 100-percent cost sharing by the federal government for 180 days of emergency work to help begin the process of repairing damaged energy infrastructure,” said Sue Kelly, the president of the American Public Power Association. Kelly’s group represents a segment of the utility sector that is nonprofit and government-owned, such as the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
Kelly’s statement came via a special public-private group formed between the federal government and the utility industry, called the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council.
The group was created to coordinate a response if the grid was attacked or affected by some devastating event. The Department of Defense reported Tuesday that 100 percent of the island’s local distribution system was wiped out. Eighty percent of its longer-distance transmission lines were destroyed.
But the coordinating council said until damage assessments are completed across the island, “officials will not know what resources — both human and equipment — will be needed to restore power,” it said.
Kelly’s group, with the entire electric power industry, will be working with the federal government to secure resources that include transportation, fuel, housing, food, water and security required “to support restoration crews once the assessments are done.”
“Responding to major events like Hurricane Maria requires significant coordination among the public and private sectors,” said Tom Fanning, coordinating council co-chairman, who also serves as president and CEO of investor-owned utility giant Southern Co. The coordinating council is formed from utility sector CEOs.
“Strong industry-government coordination is critical, and I thank President Trump and his administration for their support and commitment throughout Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria,” Fanning said. “Puerto Rico is facing complicated logistical challenges for life and safety that need to be stabilized before full power restoration efforts can get underway. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Puerto Rico and their families during this challenging time.”
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency waived diesel fuel requirements for the island, allowing it to move fuel to market without the worry of violating emission rules under the Clean Air Act.
However, the EPA warned that using diesel fuel exceeding sulfur limits may cause serious damage to the engine.
The EPA waiver applies to fuel used in mobile non-road emergency generators and pumps, heating oil and boat fuel through Oct. 15.
