On May 8, 2018, Bruce J. Walker, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity (OE), testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Puerto Rico’s electric grid. 

Mr. Walker highlighted the Department’s commitment to provide the support and technical assistance necessary to the Puerto Rico Energy Power Authority (PREPA) as they begin their task of rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electric grid.  Working in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, DOE seeks to facilitate collaboration with PREPA as they plan future investments and determine where financial resources will be most beneficial in strengthening Puerto Rico’s grid and increasing its resilience. 

“No single investment in energy infrastructure at one point in time will achieve resilience. The energy infrastructure of Puerto Rico must be designed, built, managed, and maintained in such a way to withstand likely stresses, ameliorate disruptions when they inevitably occur, recover quickly, and incorporate lessons learned into post-event planning and operations. This is a continual process of improvement, one involving a reassessment and adaptation of solutions and technologies to address changing needs,” said Mr. Walker. “The end goal is a modern and resilient energy system that can serve as the robust engine for Puerto Rico’s economic revitalization.”

Mr. Walker’s written testimony is available HERE.

More information about the hearing, including the list of witnesses and testimonies, is available HERE.