Puerto Rico
Over the prior year, Puerto Rico has passed the following Energy & Environment bills:
Energy Legislation
Nuclear Energy
SR 499 | Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactor Study
Sponsored by Reyes Berrios
Adopts a resolution directing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the Public-Private Partnerships Authority, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, and other relevant entities to evaluate current nuclear energy technology. The study will examine implementation costs, territorial and technical feasibility, and the potential number and use of small modular reactors in Puerto Rico.
Renewable Energy
S 82 | Green Hydrogen as Alternative Renewable Energy
Sponsored by Rivera Schatz
Enacts Act No. 92-2025, amending Puerto Rico’s energy diversification law to classify hydrogen produced without fossil fuels, commonly known as green hydrogen, as an alternative renewable energy source. The change aligns the statutory definition with federal clean-energy planning and makes qualifying green hydrogen technologies eligible under the territory’s renewable-energy framework.
Utilities
HR 77 | Electric Service Interruptions in District 21
Sponsored by Martinez
Adopts a resolution directing a legislative investigation into recurring electric service interruptions in Representative District 21. The review will examine the causes and consequences of the outages and their effects on residents’ quality of life, housing, and economic development.
HR 88 | Power Outages and Voltage Fluctuations
Sponsored by Santiago Guzman
Adopts a resolution directing a comprehensive investigation into electric power outages and voltage fluctuations across Puerto Rico. The inquiry will evaluate their causes and the effects of unreliable service on residential and commercial customers.
HJR 193 | Net-Metering Interconnection Fee Relief
Sponsored by Pares Otero
Enacts Act No. 5-2026, directing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the grid operator to stop collecting supplementary-study and grid-improvement fees imposed under Regulation No. 8915 on net-metered generation systems of up to 25 kilowatts. The measure also calls for updated interconnection standards consistent with Puerto Rico’s energy public policy.
SR 331 | Unused Net-Metering Credit Review
Sponsored by Hernandez Ortiz
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into how accumulated, unused net-metering credits are calculated, managed, and distributed. The review includes transfers benefiting the Department of Education and LUMA Energy’s internal procedures for handling excess kilowatt-hour credits associated with customer accounts.
Environment Legislation
Community & Environmental Health
HR 365 | Public School Drinking Water Fountain Conditions
Sponsored by Perez Ramirez
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into the location, operation, maintenance, and condition of drinking water fountains in public schools. The review will also consider equitable access to safe drinking water during periods of extreme heat.
Inland Water Quality & Management
HR 29 | Wastewater and Compost Plant Operations Investigation
Sponsored by Nieves Rosario
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into operations, management, and treatment processes at the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment plant and at the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources’ compost plant.
SR 154 | Water and Wastewater Facility Condition Study
Sponsored by Sanchez Alvarez
Adopts a resolution directing a study of the condition of pumping systems and drinking water and wastewater treatment plants operated by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. The review is intended to identify infrastructure and operational needs affecting reliable water and sewer service.
SR 189 | Drinking Water Service Reliability Investigation
Sponsored by Colon La Santa
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into the quality, continuity, and reliability of drinking water service provided by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.
HR 247 | Western Region Drinking Water Projects Study
Sponsored by Roman Lopez
Adopts a resolution directing a study of drinking water access projects under development in Puerto Rico’s western region. The review will assess project progress and opportunities to strengthen reliable access to essential water service.
SR 289 | San Juan Drinking Water Interruptions Investigation
Sponsored by Morales Rodriguez
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into recurring drinking water service interruptions affecting multiple communities in San Juan. The inquiry will examine the causes of the disruptions and the response of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.
HR 315 | District 18 Drinking Water Infrastructure and Service
Sponsored by Gonzalez Gonzalez
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into water infrastructure, maintenance, drinking water access, and service quality in Aguada, Anasco, Rincon, and Moca, which comprise Representative District 18. The review focuses on conditions and services provided by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.
HR 317 | Arecibo and Hatillo Drinking Water Interruptions
Sponsored by Robles
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into persistent and intermittent drinking water service in Arecibo and Hatillo, the municipalities comprising Representative District 14. The inquiry will seek the causes of the disruptions and evaluate the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s response.
HR 356 | Drinking Water Distribution Crisis Investigation
Sponsored by Marquez Lebron
Adopts a resolution directing a comprehensive investigation into Puerto Rico’s drinking water distribution crisis. The inquiry will examine the infrastructure, operational, and service conditions contributing to unreliable water delivery.
HR 416 | Islote Sewage Overflow Investigation
Sponsored by Nieves Rosario
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into persistent sewage overflows in the Islote neighborhood. The inquiry will evaluate the causes, public health and environmental effects, and corrective actions needed to address the problem.
HR 471 | District 13 Drinking Water Service Disruptions
Sponsored by Nieves Rosario
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into the causes of drinking water service disruptions in the communities of Representative District 13. The inquiry focuses on service provided by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and measures needed to improve reliability.
Land Management
HR 239 | Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Investigation
Sponsored by Aponte Hernandez
Adopts a resolution directing a legislative investigation into illegal wildlife trafficking in Puerto Rico. The inquiry will examine the scope of the activity and the enforcement and policy measures available to protect native and regulated species.
Reorganization & Coordination
S 459 | Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Governance
Sponsored by Rivera Schatz
Enacts Act No. 34-2025, revising the composition and governance of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s governing board. The law changes how municipal representatives are designated, clarifies political-activity and conflict-of-interest restrictions for officials, and makes technical amendments intended to strengthen institutional governance and accountability.
Solid Waste
HR 17 | Solid Waste Management System Investigation
Sponsored by DelValle Correa
Adopts a resolution directing a comprehensive investigation into Puerto Rico’s solid waste management system. The inquiry will assess current conditions and identify issues affecting collection, disposal, recycling, and the development of waste-management markets.
H 19 | Used Tire Safety Standards
Sponsored by Mendez Nunez
Enacts Act No. 103-2025, establishing minimum safety standards for used tires sold or installed in Puerto Rico. The law prohibits tires with specified tread, structural, repair, identification, recall, or age defects; requires implementing rules and coordination among transportation, environmental, and consumer agencies; incorporates the standards into vehicle inspections; and authorizes administrative penalties for violations.
S 213 | Solar, Battery, and Electric Vehicle Equipment Recycling
Sponsored by Moran
Enacts Act No. 169-2026, expanding Puerto Rico’s electronic equipment recycling and disposal law to cover renewable-energy and energy-storage equipment. Covered equipment includes photovoltaic systems, battery storage systems, lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries and chargers, and comparable components, bringing end-of-life solar and transportation technologies into the territory’s recycling and disposal framework.
S 219 | Recycling Industry Financing
Sponsored by Moran
Enacts Act No. 152-2026, revising Puerto Rico’s solid waste reduction and recycling law to expand financing for recycling infrastructure. The measure authorizes the Economic Development Bank to support private recycling entities and community enterprises purchasing collection, storage, processing, or transportation equipment or constructing recycling facilities, with the goal of creating a durable financing source for the sector.
HR 292 | Tire Recycling Alternatives Study
Sponsored by Aponte Hernandez
Adopts a resolution directing an investigation into tire recycling in Puerto Rico. The review will evaluate alternatives for increasing recovery and beneficial use of discarded tires and promoting the territory’s tire-recycling industry.
H 806 | Child Safety Seat Reuse and Recycling
Sponsored by Hernandez Concepcion
Enacts Act No. 2-2026, amending Puerto Rico’s child safety seat collection, reuse, and recycling program. The Fire Bureau and Traffic Safety Commission may accept and reuse donated child safety or booster seats without an accompanying instruction manual when the seats remain within their useful life, retain required labels and components, and are certified as meeting federal safety standards; unusable seats must be recycled.
US Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands has passed the following legislation related to Energy & Environment in its current session:
Energy Legislation
Renewable Energy
Bill 36-214 | Estate Fortuna Solar Array Permit
Sponsored by Potter
Enacts Act No. 9061, ratifying the St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Committee’s consent to Major Coastal Zone Permit No. CZMJL0017-25. The permit authorizes construction of a solar array on Parcels 3B and 2, Estate Fortuna, St. Thomas.
Bill 36-215 | Estate Bovoni Solar Array Permit
Sponsored by Potter
Enacts Act No. 9062, ratifying the St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Committee’s unanimous consent to Major Coastal Zone Management Permit No. CZMJL0018-25. The permit authorizes construction of a solar array on Parcel 17 Remainder Bovoni, Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas.
Bill 36-248 | Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program
Sponsored by Lewis
Enacts Act No. 9102, establishing a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program enables owners of qualifying commercial property to obtain long-term private financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resilience improvements and repay the financing through a voluntary assessment tied to the property.
Environment Legislation
Solid Waste
Bill 36-232 | Controlled Green Waste Incineration
Sponsored by Joseph
Enacts Act No. 9099, authorizing the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and approved landfill operators to use controlled incineration technologies, including air curtain incinerators, for green waste when safer alternatives such as shredding, mulching, composting, or reuse are unavailable. The measure establishes operating, sorting, fire-safety, air-monitoring, reporting, and community-impact requirements for the technology.