Article published in the 2022 Annual Report
The year 2022 saw the realization of a project that began to take shape at the end of 2020, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of philanthropic and non-profit organizations joined forces to promote resilient community facilities, redefining the concept of critical facilities in vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico.
These critical facilities would be defined as centrally located, easily accessible places that could provide other essential survival items or services.
It was also about finding ways to amplify the impact of philanthropic investments so that a greater number of facilities, and therefore communities, could benefit from access to renewable energy, which would turn them into centers of community resilience – in addition to receiving energy savings.
The novel project utilized a model that included combined funding sources: philanthropic grants and financing, and was known as the Community Energy Resilience Initiative (CERI), comprised of FCPR. RMI, and The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. This initiative, a pioneer in the Caribbean, promotes access to clean and affordable energy in five (5) vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico and makes them resilient to continue providing essential services during emergencies and power outages.
Launch Energy Resilience Model
In June 2022, three of the five facilities premiered the model: Puerto Rico Pre-Vocational and Industrial Institute (IPVI), in Arecibo*; Jomari Pharmacy, in Patillas; and Valentín Service Station, in Utuado.
For each installation, a solar microgrid design with storage was created. Then, Panadería Mi Arcoíris in Jayuya and the Network for the Rights of Children and Youth of Puerto Rico (RDNJPR) in Juncos were joined.
In the first four installations, there was financial participation from Banco Popular and CooPACA. In the case of the RDNJPR, the loan was granted by the Community Investment Fund (FIC) of the FCPR.