Puerto Rico continues to remain without electricity after Hurricane Maria struck on September 20, and the government is straddled with a major crisis. Most of the island does not have power, and the aging network must be restored, but the island's electricity company was declared bankrupt in July. Therefore, Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello wants to switch over to the option of Solar Power and is keen to involve Elon Musk in the project.
Solar power a viable alternative
New Zealand Herald reports that Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello has set the ball rolling through the Twitter channel to contact Elon Musk. He has already developed solar power systems for other islands around the world and could come to the rescue of Puerto Rico. It seems Elon Musk has indicated that his Tesla team is not new to such jobs and can add Puerto Rico to the list.
However, it would require Federal funds to replace existing wooden poles with more rigid concrete ones. This may not be possible from funds already allotted by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and additional funds would have to be allotted.
In the opinion of an expert of the environmental protection agency, the situation on the island could be a blessing in disguise. It could compel the authorities to introduce a new way of generating clean energy, and the federal government should support the initiative. Instead of spending hurricane money to prop up the old infrastructure dedicate to fossil fuels, a new setup should be encouraged.
Lack of electricity affects lives
Healthcare is the worst affected. Lack of electricity has forced hospitals in Puerto Rico to rely on generators, and millions of its people are struggling to cope with a lack of refrigeration or air conditioning. Even those in need of dialysis are stuck.
Under the circumstances, the government must explore all possible avenues of not only restoring electricity but also updating its existing facilities with a new concept like solar power.
The power grid of the Caribbean island is practically wiped out which provides an opportunity to embrace the new technology, and harness it to meet its energy needs.
Last year, Puerto Rico met most of its power needs through oil to generate electricity which is not just a primitive method but an expensive one as well. The island also resorted to coal and natural gas while those who used renewable energy were a negligible percentage. In case Elon Musk restructures the island with a solar network, it would reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and pave the way for a cleaner environment apart from reducing global warming.