By Libni Sanjurjo / FCPR Communications Officer
As part of a process of determination, learning, and hope, the San Salvador Energy Cooperative Pirucho Coop. signed this week the contract that will allow them to begin the first stage of one of their community dreams: to turn the San Salvador community in Caguas into a solar community. To achieve this, they had several allies, including the support of Puerto Rico Community Foundation (FCPR) through a philanthropic investment (donation) and technical assistance, which has allowed them to strengthen the community's financial, human, physical, social, and environmental capital. In this way, they are moving towards becoming the first solar community using the energy cooperative model in Puerto Rico.
“We are paving the way. You are already pioneers,” said FCPR President, Dr. Nelson I. Colón Tarrats, during the signing of the contract with the company chosen by the cooperative, Sun Sol, represented by its president, Frankie Alemany. “It is of utmost importance to us that we learn together on this journey; to learn more, to go further,” he added.
The ambitious project will begin with the installation of a solar energy system for eight residences in the community, with the aim of extending the initiative to more residences. “With this first step, we are undertaking the establishment of the network. In the coming years, we hope to cover a large part of the community,” highlighted the cooperative's treasurer, José Luis Ortiz Muñoz. “On behalf of the community, we thank you for the support you have given us,” added an emotional cooperative president, Carlos Joel Nieves Arroyo.
Pirucho Coop reaches this stage of the process after having received technical assistance from the FCPR in 2019 on the community solar creation process (legal, governance, and sustainability matters), based on its experience with the diversity of renewable energy access projects it has promoted since including this approach in its strategic plan, in response to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (2017). One of the main projects promoted by the FCPR is the Toro Negro community in Ciales, the first to own and manage its own system. “The community showed us its capacity to organize, manage, and own a community renewable energy system,” highlighted Colón Tarrats.
The San Salvador Community is composed of 14 sectors in the neighborhoods of Río Abajo, Anón, Hato, and Morena. The community has approximately 700 families and 2,726 residents. They have been working on various initiatives since the 1970s and incorporated in 1997 as Comunidad Organizada San Salvador, Inc. (COSS). COSS is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for community residents through environmental conservation projects and the preservation of their cultural and historical heritage. The organization's mission is to foster and facilitate the empowerment and sustainable socioeconomic development of San Salvador residents in Caguas through alliances, service coordination, volunteer development, and program creation. In 2019, COSS also received support from the FCPR to establish an emergency community center. They arrived at the creation of the cooperative after the COSS board developed a strategic plan that envisioned, among other things, the establishment of a solar community as an energy cooperative, which led to Pirucho Coop.
“At the Community Foundation, we posit that the path for communities is to act in order to build. I know it's nice to say, but practicing it is difficult because it's a laborious process; it requires being open to learning and being willing to face challenges. Despite that, we want communities to walk this path so they can position themselves better for the future. We need communities with the capacity to generate their own capital, and the FCPR is there to drive and strengthen it,” highlighted Colón Tarrats. “We are here, seeing this process with great hope and in the best disposition to continue accompanying them,” added Colón Tarrats.
Pirucho Coop. was established on October 8, 2019, under the laws of Puerto Rico as an Energy Cooperative. The San Salvador Energy Cooperative, “Pirucho Coop.,” promotes the economic development of the community through a community cooperative enterprise for the production and sale of renewable energy. This would be the first operational energy cooperative, in accordance with the provisions of the Puerto Rico Energy Cooperatives Act, Law No. 258 of December 14, 2018.