Puerto Rico Energy Generation Crisis Task Force Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2714

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2025-05-27T16:50:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation aims to create a dedicated task force to tackle Puerto Rico's ongoing energy generation crises, such as power outages and unreliable supply, by fostering better coordination between U.S. federal agencies and Puerto Rican government and energy representatives. This is intended to identify problems quickly and implement solutions efficiently, especially in light of past emergencies like hurricanes.

Key Provisions

• Establishment: A task force is created within the Executive Office of the President to enhance collaboration among the Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Puerto Rico's energy sector and government.
• Membership: The task force includes five members:
• One appointed by the Secretary of Energy.
• One appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security (through FEMA's Administrator).
• One appointed by the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers.
• One appointed by Puerto Rico's Energy Czar.
• Three appointed by the Puerto Rico government to represent the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (a regulatory body), LUMA Energy (a power distribution company), and Genera PR (a power generation company).
• Duties: The task force must:
• Identify energy generation issues in Puerto Rico and develop solutions.
• Coordinate efforts between member entities and, where possible, other groups like the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team.
• Operations:
• Meetings occur at least every 30 days, led by a head selected from members, with flexible formats (e.g., virtual or hybrid) to avoid delays.
• Reporting: The task force head submits semi-annual reports to Congress and the President (first within 90 days of enactment, then every 180 days). Reports cover identified problems, solution recommendations, implementation timelines (expected or actual), and responsible entities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new entity—a formal task force—without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing federal involvement in Puerto Rico's energy recovery (e.g., post-Hurricane Maria efforts) by mandating structured collaboration, but it does not alter statutes like the Federal Power Act or Puerto Rico's energy oversight laws. Instead, it creates a temporary coordination mechanism to streamline ongoing federal aid and local operations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal entities (DOE, FEMA, Army Corps) will face new coordination requirements, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving efficiency in disaster response and energy projects. Puerto Rico's government agencies may see faster access to federal resources.
• On Citizens: Puerto Ricans could benefit from more reliable electricity, reduced blackouts, and quicker recovery from energy emergencies, enhancing daily life, public safety, and economic stability in a region prone to grid failures.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. territory issues; however, it could indirectly support U.S. energy security in the Caribbean by stabilizing Puerto Rico's grid.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Government: DOE, FEMA, and Army Corps of Engineers, which must appoint members and participate in coordination.
• Puerto Rico Entities: Local government (including the Energy Bureau), LUMA Energy, Genera PR, and the Energy Czar's office, responsible for on-the-ground implementation.
• Puerto Rican Residents and Businesses: Primary beneficiaries through improved energy reliability, though indirectly affected via the task force's work.
• Congress and the President: Recipients of reports, influencing oversight and future funding decisions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The task force operates as an advisory body without enforcement powers, relying on voluntary cooperation among members; this avoids conflicts with existing regulatory frameworks but could raise questions about funding (not specified in the bill, potentially requiring appropriations).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Territory Clause (Article IV, Section 3) to govern U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, promoting federal-local partnership without infringing on local autonomy.
• Political: Highlights ongoing federal attention to Puerto Rico's post-disaster recovery, potentially addressing criticisms of slow U.S. response to island-specific challenges. It may influence debates on Puerto Rico's status (e.g., statehood) by emphasizing energy infrastructure as a key equity issue, though the bill remains non-partisan in focus.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rescom. Hernández, Pablo [D-PR-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-08: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Puerto Rico Energy Generation Crisis Task Force Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (4 pages)