Resilience Initiatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

The briefing discusses strategies for enhancing resilience in the U.S. Caribbean, focusing on Puerto Rico's transition toward a renewable energy economy centered on rooftop solar and the U.S. Virgin Islands' efforts to integrate natural infrastructure into hazard mitigation plans.

• Puerto Rico's energy transition is focused on a renewable energy economy, with a U.S. Department of Energy commissioned study recommending that the electrical system be developed primarily through rooftop solar installations rather than utility-scale wind, which requires significant transmission investment.
• In the U.S. Virgin Islands, efforts to update the hazard mitigation plan for FEMA include strategies for resilient housing, infrastructure, and the use of natural systems for coastal protection, such as restoring mangroves and wetlands to provide stormwater filtration and fisheries benefits.
• Community-based resilience in Puerto Rico involves the creation of community hubs—including schools, hospitals, and community centers—that facilitate mutual aid for housing reconstruction, water filtration, and rooftop solar installation.
• The U.S. Caribbean islands are identified as more sensitive to temperature and precipitation changes than the mainland U.S. due to their small size and relative isolation.

APA

Arthur, M. (2020). Resilience Initiatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060420prusvi

Chicago

Arthur, Maeve. Resilience Initiatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2020. https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060420prusvi.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Arthur |first1=Maeve |title=Resilience Initiatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=4 June 2020 |url=https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060420prusvi |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{arthur2020resilience, author = {Arthur, Maeve}, title = {{Resilience Initiatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060420prusvi}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }