Environment
Is Solar the Answer to Puerto Rico's Blackout?
Energy companies are scrambling to get solar microgrids up and running—and imagining a future that leans away from diesel.
Weeks after Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, the vast majority of the island is still in the dark.
Rebooting the grid will be an ongoing task—but many experts say that the end game should be something other than just reinvigorating the existing infrastructure. Turning to solar energy would be a long-term boost to the island’s sustainability, but it could also provide short-term benefits: As part of microgrids, solar panels could expedite a return to power for some of the most vulnerable parts of the country.