Puerto Rico should not stay in the dark »Yale climate connection

It is 5:30 a.m., and coffee is very careful, and its coffee cereal aroma is synonymous with dawn. My mother, my father, grandfather and I sat in the kitchen, generations gathered in the flashing lights to talk about the day of the beginning, and were so happy to be together to receive the New Year.

Just as we started sharing expectations, the lights in the kitchen flickered. Then, his light disappeared. Click and then buzz, deafening silence. power failure. another. Under this thickness of silence, everything my relatives didn't say. trembling hands, frustrated sighs and anxiety reflected on their face. They have lived in it before. But not now. Not today. Except today, except today.

We entered survival mode, moving while looking for phosphorus, turning on the candle, picking up the generator and going out to find gasoline. We promise each other that everything will be fine. We convinced ourselves that we could deal with another power outage.

My family’s history is the history of millions of Puerto Ricans affected by power outages since the LMA, working to privatize Puerto Rico’s energy resources. Despite the promise of a powerful and effective electrical system development, power outages remain frequent, interrupting daily life throughout the island. But these failures are more than just discomfort. They are symptoms of deep-rooted systemic problems that put Puerto Ricans at risk for their physical and mental health.

Understandably, the media often focuses on the direct and tangible effects of power outages: closed businesses, damaged food and paralyzed public transportation. The economic impact of the power outage on the island is really great. It is estimated that Hurricane Maria's initial economic impact is $55 billion. Many small businesses that are already fighting in a fragile economy have had to shut down after repeated power outages, putting more families in poverty. This vicious cycle further exacerbates the island's economic instability, with more than 40% of the population living in poverty.

But under these common problems, the more sinister burden is hidden: the impact on the physical and mental health of Puerto Rican citizens. Due to power outages, it is difficult for hospitals to retain life-saving equipment, depending on backup generators, which are also prone to failure. On an island, many people suffer from chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and Blackberries forces citizens to fight for their lives, especially when they rely on drugs that require refrigeration and medical equipment that require electricity.

The power outages also significantly limit key factors in survival in the tropical climate of Puerto Rico, which can significantly limit access to drinking water and air conditioners. During prolonged power outages, heat-related diseases have increased, putting the most vulnerable diseases at risk. Recent studies have found that the increasing reliance on diesel generators has exacerbated respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Schools without reliable electricity have difficulty providing a stable learning environment, which can lead to academic delays and increased student despair. In turn, parents face growing pressure while trying to maintain routine and support their families. For older people and those suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions, the unpredictability of power outages exacerbates the feeling of isolation and positivity, creating a dangerous cycle of emotional deterioration.

In fact, every power outage is a requalitative: a fearful reminder of vulnerability and instability. For an island with limited health resources, this is the secret to disaster. If this health crisis is not addressed, it will only deepen, resulting in a generational cycle of adverse health outcomes.

Puerto Rico needs a resilient and sustainable energy system to disrupt this cycle. Solar energy provides an opportunity to lift the island out of darkness. The 2024 EPA report estimates that solar infrastructure can save up to $350 million in annual savings for Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable homes. Community solar projects (community shared resources) have demonstrated their success in villages such as affiliated, illuminating the possibility of stability and prosperity for Puerto Ricans.

To truly illuminate the future of Puerto Rico, the U.S. government must prioritize the modernization of power networks using climate-resilient infrastructure. Despite the continued commitment of the Biden administration to implement sustainable solar energy, the results are limited. Any progress the Trump administration seems to have made in the island’s sustainable infrastructure is retreating, thus completely eliminating its energy-defined solar and wind energy. Additionally, Trump's recent execution order attempts to reverse Biden's efforts to provide efforts to sustainable renewable energy to return to fossil fuels. Puerto Rico cannot maintain its policy of putting it in the dark. The Trump administration must address and strengthen the significant positive impact of solar energy on Puerto Rico's financial and social health.

Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Government must be held accountable for its practices and failures. Although Puerto Rico Energy Agency has established performance standards so that Luma can obtain incentives, there is no sanction on bad behavior or enforce sanctions. Puerto Rico has suffered about 232 power outages under Luma's management since Hurricane Fiona in 2022, reflecting the incompetence of the company. The Puerto Rico Government and the Energy Agency must require Luma to have higher quality of service and performance and to have tangible impacts when the multimillionaire company fails to fulfill its promises.

There is no doubt that the process of ensuring a stable and resilient energy supply to improve the quality of life for Puerto Ricans is complicated and takes time. Community members such as my parents and grandfather have made significant progress with Puerto Rico's stability through collaboration, creativity and resilience. But the Puerto Rican spirit itself cannot maintain unreliable electricity.

Eliminating outages is not just about keeping the lights far more effective. The process of the Puerto Rico's suffering cycle will change.

Gabriel Cartagena He is a medical faculty at Yale University and a bilingual clinical psychologist, assistant professor, and leader of the Yale University psychology program. He is also a scholarship for the public voice of the column project.