The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has renewed two emergency orders to support Puerto Rico’s electric grid as the island prepares for increased energy demand and the 2026 hurricane season. The renewed orders allow the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to operate key generation units and speed up vegetation management, aiming to reduce outages and improve long-term reliability.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright stated, “The Department of Energy will continue modernizing Puerto Rico’s electric grid to ensure the island achieves long-term resilience and reliability. Renewing these orders ensures critical work moves forward, urgent reliability challenges are addressed, and Puerto Rico’s grid is ready to withstand rising energy demand. Thanks to President Trump, these efforts are delivering real, lasting progress for Puerto Rico.”
DOE’s emergency actions have helped restore up to 820 megawatts (MW) of baseload generation capacity in Puerto Rico, raising total systemwide capacity to 6,460 MW. During a water crisis, several plants operated without water injection so that electricity supply was maintained despite difficult conditions.
Vegetation management near high-voltage lines is also a focus of the renewed orders. Storms and high winds in Puerto Rico can cause tree limbs or brush to fall on transmission lines, leading to widespread outages or even wildfires.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón commented on the importance of these measures: “The Department of Energy’s 202(c) emergency orders have been instrumental in preventing the widespread power outages Puerto Rico was expected to face, allowing us to increase our baseload generation capacity and advance grid stability measures. Extending the orders is necessary to continue making progress and I thank President Trump and Secretary Wright for their unwavering commitment to ensure the island has an affordable, reliable supply of energy.”
The new emergency orders are effective from February 10 through May 11, 2026. DOE plans continued cooperation with Governor González-Colón and local authorities so that all residents have access to a stable electric grid.
In previous years, DOE has taken steps aimed at improving energy resilience nationwide. For example, in July 2022 it announced a $225 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for implementing updated building energy codes across states (https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-launches-225-million-program-lower-utility-bills-through-more). Additionally, DOE has supported clean vehicle technologies with $96 million in funding opportunities designed to expand charging infrastructure and promote cleaner engines (https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-96-million-advancing-clean-vehicle-technologies-reduce-carbon-emissions).
DOE has also promoted environmental management initiatives such as using innovative passive processes at cleanup sites like Savannah River Site (https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/srs-tackles-groundwater-issue-using-innovative-passive-energy-process), while highlighting technology development during congressional testimony about national laboratory involvement in cleanup missions (https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/technology-development-aiding-em-mission-senior-advisor-white-tells-congress).
To further support disadvantaged communities under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, DOE announced more than 140 programs—including grants for weatherization assistance and enhancing grid resilience—to direct investments toward those most in need (https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-more-140-programs-supporting-president-bidens-justice40-initiative).
On May 16, August 15, and November 12 of last year, DOE issued similar emergency orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act authorizing specific PREPA generation units’ operation while requiring vegetation management along major transmission lines.
