Sustainable, Democratic Energy and Public Health

This briefing transcript features a discussion between community advocate Ruth Santiago and Dr. Greg Guannel regarding energy transition, public health, and coastal resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

• Puerto Rico's energy system is characterized by high centralization and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, with approximately 70 percent of generation located on the southern coast and transmitted to the San Juan metropolitan area. Natural gas has become the primary fuel source, while renewables account for only about 2.3 to 2.5 percent of the energy mix.
• The AES coal-burning power plant in Puerto Rico has caused environmental contamination by leaking heavy metals from coal ash waste into the South Coast Aquifer, as the facility lacks a proper disposal site for the waste.
• The 'We Want Sun' (Queremos Sol) civil society proposal advocates for a transition away from centralized fossil fuel plants toward a democratic energy system. This model emphasizes rooftop solar, battery energy storage, energy efficiency, and the transformation of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to allow for 'prosumers'—individuals who both produce and consume energy.
• In the U.S. Virgin Islands, significant portions of critical infrastructure are located in high-risk zones: over 25 percent of all buildings are in flood zones, more than 45 percent of government buildings (including hospitals and clinics) are in flood and tsunami zones, and over 40 percent of all buildings are in extremely high wind zones.
• The University of the Virgin Islands is updating the territory's Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to shift focus from purely built infrastructure to a holistic approach. This includes investing in 'social infrastructure' (community networks) and 'natural infrastructure' (mangroves, reefs, and aquifers) to provide ecosystem services such as storm surge reduction and food security.
• The U.S. Virgin Islands' updated Hazard Mitigation Plan is designed to make the territory eligible for pre-disaster and post-disaster funding, specifically through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2020). Sustainable, Democratic Energy and Public Health. https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_060420.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Sustainable, Democratic Energy and Public Health. 2020. https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_060420.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Sustainable, Democratic Energy and Public Health |date=June 2020 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_060420.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2020sustainable, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Sustainable, Democratic Energy and Public Health}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/transcript_060420.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }