Puerto Rico
Over the prior year, Puerto Rico has passed the following Energy & Environment bills:
Energy
Reorganization & Coordination
SR1134 | Electric Cars Reimbursement Investigation
Sponsor: Sen. Hernández
Orders the Commission on Consumer Rights, Banking Services, and Insurance Industry of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives to conduct a thorough investigation into the implementation and control by vehicle dealers and relevant government agencies of reimbursements and/or exemptions on arbitrations authorized by prior law known as the Act for the Promotion of Vehicles Driven by Electricity.
Utilities
HR1104 | Electric Energy Authority Plan Review
Sponsor: Rep. Rodríguez, et al.
Orders the Finance and Budget Committee of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to conduct an investigation into the economic and fiscal impact of the implementation of the Fifth Amendment to the Third Amended Title III Plan of the Electric Energy Authority of Puerto Rico and to evaluate the compatibility of the plan with the objectives of the fiscal plans certified by the Board of Supervision and Fiscal Administration.
HR1142 | LUMA Energy Investigation
Sponsor: Rep. Rodríguez
Requires the Commission for the Development and Control of Public Funds of the Southeast Region and the Commission on Economic Development, Planning, Telecommunications, Public-Private Partnerships and Energy of the House of Representatives to conduct a thorough and continuous investigation on all matters related to LUMA Energy’s performance, execution and compliance with the obligations assumed in the public-private partnership contract with the Electric Energy Authority, regarding the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by LUMA Energy to the United Nations Representative District comprising sectors of the municipality of Caguas.
SR0913 | Electric Energy Authority Assets Sale
Sponsor: Sen. Dalmau
Directs the Committee on Strategic Projects and Energy of the Senate to investigate the process of sale, rental, or disposal intended to be carried out by the Electric Energy Authority of its assets at the Roosevelt Roads Base.
Environmental Legislation
Environmental Health & Justice
SR0946 | Environmental Impact Study
Sponsor: Sen. Berrios
Requires the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Senate of Puerto Rico to carry out research, study, and analysis on compliance with the regulations and provisions that apply for the construction of a stop in the coastal valley of the Playuela sector in the municipality of Aguadilla and to consider the severity of environmental impact due to the development of the project and the possibility of transforming it into an ecological corridor or other conservation options.
Inland Water Quality & Management
HR0079 | Stone River Flood Control Review
Sponsor: Reps. Santiago & Concepción
Requests the U.S. Congress and the President of the United States to intervene and review the scope and implementation of the Stone River Flood Control project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure meaningful participation of local citizens and institutions, consider nature-based solutions, meet environmental and climate justice standards, and expand the scope to comprehensively address related urban challenges.
HR1099 | Used Water Overflow Investigation
Sponsor: Rep. Ramos
Directs the Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Works Commission of the House of Representatives to conduct a thorough investigation into the recurrent problem with the overflow of used water in the Villa Cañona Community in the Municipality of Loíza, which affects the quality of life of residents.
Solid Waste
HR1115 | Waste Processing Plant Investigation
Sponsor: Rep. Fernández
Orders the Committee on Natural Resources, Environmental Affairs and Recycling of the House of Representatives to conduct a thorough investigation into the granting of permits, the operation and possible violations of law to the waste processing plant Oiltec Eco Logistics, LLC, located in the El Cinco sector of the Tomás de Castro neighborhood in the Municipality of Caguas, and for other related purposes.
US Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands has passed a single bill related to Energy & Environment in its current session.
Environmental Legislation
Coastal Zone Management
SB35-0292 | Energy Crisis Prevention
Sponsor: Sen. Francis, Jr.
Extends through September 19, 2024, the Governor’s Executive Order and Proclamation declaring a state of energy emergency in the Virgin Islands to avert an energy crisis.
The bill requires that every 30 days during the declared state of emergency, commencing on August 1, 2024, the Governor, through the Incident Command Team, must submit a detailed report to the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands providing updates on the actions taken to address the critical issues at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and appear before the Legislature’s Committee of the Whole to explain and answers questions about the report.