Inspired by other community projects and with the thrust of the most recent mass blackouts, the organization Iser Caribe He took the first steps aimed at the development of an electric micorred that guarantees the availability of essential services in the urban area of Cabo reda model that has already proved to be successful in places like attached, under the leadership of Casa Pueblo.
“What we want is to promote the energy transition from people who are being excluded from the process, And I mean low -income people, vulnerable communities and working families ”he listed Braulio QuinteroExecutive Director of Iler Caribbean, acronym in English of the Institute for Socio-Ecological Research.
In summary, the environmental scientist added, the possibility of getting rid of the consequences of the unstable electrical network, at present, is only in the hands of those with access to financing that allows him to acquire an own electricity generation system.
“In these (general) blackouts of December 31 and April 16, speculation that there are people who died for not having electricity service. Within a population of 3 million people, I am sure that one, two, three, 10 people died from April 16 to 18, or on December 31, for not having electricity. This initiative is aimed at that, to reduce that these people, who live in vulnerable, isolated, marginalized communities, with low income and working families, are not victims, because it must be said that way, They are victims of the collapse of the electrical system. That is what we have to stop, that this is not a life or death thing, ”said Quintero, who, in past years, directed the effort of the Environmental Defense Fund To install solar systems to 150 cult families through a federal proposal.
This Saturday, Iser Caribe organized, in its offices on Muñoz Rivera Street in Cabo Rojo, the first “Breakfast with Energy”, an encounter with organizations, residents and merchants of the urban area with the aim of presenting the preliminary concept of the Microrred. The activity was attended by about 15 people, including representatives of the Caborrojeño Pro Health and Environments Committee, the Southwest Puerto Rico organization, three merchants and about six residents, Quintero explained.
“We want to start that long and complex conversation of how we make an energy transition that is fair and inclusive,” the researcher described.
For the development of the micorred solar in the urban area – project that will seek financing through the Fordham University and the organization Conprmetids– Quintero said that The priority would be offices that provide health, pharmacy and legal services, as well as schools and fire stations.
“In terms of merchants, it is a little more difficult, because since the entrance to the movement is voluntary, we want these breakfast initiatives with energy to be that first step for merchants, which many see it under the melting of how this will benefit me and how this will help me in my operational cost structure,” he accentuated.
The headquarters of Iser Caribe, Quintero said, could be part of a pilot project that serves to show the rest of the occupants of the urban area the benefits of what is expected, is expected to be the community micorred.
“The building next door, which is the property of the same person who rents us, has five other small stores, so we can make an alliance with those five stores to place the systems on their roof and us and do as a demonstrative ‘nanorred’ so that merchants see that this is possible,” he explained.
The pilot could start within the next two years, Quintero estimatedso it would be parallel to the study of community needs that would guide the guidelines for the microred design.
1 /12 | Energy Independence Square: Solar Oasis on the mountain. The Plaza de la Independencia Energhetico, in Adjuntas, was officially inaugurated on Saturday, December 21. – Jorge to Ramirez Portela
He pointed out that, although it is an effort that must be self -managed from the community, with the view to becoming an electric service cooperative, “eventually” it will be necessary to incorporate in the conversation to municipal and state authorities, as well as to Luma Energy in its operator role of the transmission and distribution network.
“The idea, in part, is to take successes of projects such as Casa Pueblo, the Mountain Hydroelectric Cooperative, Abeyno Coop and Barrio Electrico, because they are organizations that I know and know their people, to inform us of their successes, but also of their failures. In all processes there are a series of failures, obstacles and failures, which are very important to help us to understand how this process will happen and how it can be as effective as possible ”he said.
At the moment, breakfast with energy are scheduled for a Saturday per month, being the next call for June 7, when the assistance of the Electrical Engineering professor is expected Marcel Castro Sitiriche and Sonia VillaverdeEntity programs manager Grid Alternatives.