Puerto Rico
Over the prior year, Puerto Rico has passed the following Energy & Environment bills:
Energy Legislation
Fossil Energy
H267-2025 | Coal Phase-out Extension
Sponsored by Núñez and Miembros PNP
Amends the 2019 Energy Public Policy Act in order to, among other minor changes, extend the coal phase-out date to December 31, 2032.
Renewable Energy
S82-2025 | Green Hydrogen Definition
Sponsored by Schatz and Veve
Adds green hydrogen to the definition of “alternate renewable energy” in line with the plan adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Utilities
H268-2025 | Fines and Collections for Utilities
Sponsored by Núñez and Miembros PNP
Strengthens the Energy Bureau’s penalty and collections powers and bars passing such fines to ratepayers.
Environmental Legislation
Community & Environmental Health
S83-2025 | Introduced Species Management
Sponsored by Schatz, et al.
Creates the Law for the Management of Introduced Species, setting policy, permitting, and penalties for invasive species.
S165-2025 | Environmental Preservation Fund
Sponsored by Santoni and Álvarez
Updates the Permanent Environmental Preservation Fund for Culebra & Vieques to keep a $2 visitor fee and clarifies separate accounts and allowed uses, such as recycling and sensitive area upkeep.
Solid Waste
H277-2025 | Single-use Plastics Ban Pause
Sponsored by Ramírez, Colón, and Dávila
Temporarily pauses enforcement of the single-use plastics ban until December 31, 2026, and creates a working group to study the issue.
US Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands has passed the following legislation related to Energy & Environment in its current session:
Energy Legislation
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Bill 35-340 | Energy-crisis Extension
Sponsored by Francis and Bolques, Jr.
Extends the energy-crisis state of emergency (to December 20, 2024) in order to stabilize electricity supply.
Utilities
Bills 35-300 & 35-320 | Microgrid Lease Agreements
Sponsored by Francis and Bolques, Jr.
Approves lease agreements for microgrid infrastructure with wind turbines on St. Thomas and St. Croix (Advance Power, LLC).
Environmental Legislation
Solid Waste
Bill 36-43 | Sanitation Violations
Sponsored by Bolques, Jr. and Blyden
Increases penalties for sanitation law violations by tightening enforcement.