Letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carson, Department of Energy Secretary Perry, Federal Emergrnency Management Agency Acting Administrator Gaynor, and Office of Management and Budget Director Mulvancey - Hoyer, Soto, Bipartisan Members Request Funds Disbursement to Rebuild Electrical Grid in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

Letter

June 27, 2019

Dear Secretary Carson, Secretary Perry, Acting Administrator Gaynor, and Director Mulvaney:

We write to urge the publication of the Federal Register Notice detailing the administrative requirements for the disbursement of the $2 billion Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) appropriated to improve and increase the resilience of the power grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) was enacted into law. However, more than a year after enactment of the Act, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has failed to publish the Federal Register Notice to disburse the CDBG-DR funds needed to rebuild resilient power grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The $2 billion in CDBG-DR HUD funding is meant to enhance and improve the electrical power systems in areas damaged by Hurricane Maria. In order for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to gain access to the appropriated funds, HUD must first publish a Federal Register Notice of administrative requirements. However, nearly a year and a half after the Bipartisan Budget Act was passed, HUD has failed to provide the required notice. Without the publication of the Federal Register Notice, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be unable to adequately establish action plans for the reconstruction of the electrical grids.

On April 11, 2019, Governor Ricardo Rossello signed S.B. 1121, Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act, into law. The purpose of this legislation is to transition Puerto Rico's energy generation to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Through the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority (PREPA), Puerto Rico is striving to use $900 million of their appropriated CDBG-DR HUD funding to rebuild the grid with a focus on the generation and distribution of renewable power.[1] With the current high cost and unpredictability of power generation and distribution on the islands, the disbursement of the $2 billion in CDBG-DR HUD funding is essential to meet the goals of the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands governments to alleviate power grid burdens.

Therefore, we urge the immediate publication of the Federal Register Notice detailing the administrative requirements for the disbursement of the $2 billion in CDBG-DR HUD funding to rebuild resilient, enhanced power grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We must strive to enable the prosperity of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by providing renewable, affordable, resilient, and reliable power. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Source