Empowering Culebra

As lockdown restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic became flexible by the second half of 2020, we were able to gain some track to accelerate our goal: to solarize small business and non-profit organizations in Culebra, a small island-municipality of Puerto Rico. 

A contract agreement for the Architecture/Engineering was submitted to Economic Development Administration (EDA)* and it was approved, we had a full flesh contractor by the end of September. This allowed us to visit the community in October and hold a Town Hall Meeting to present the Project to the community at large, including NGOs and merchants. The purpose of the meeting was to engage community participation and generate a since of pride in the endeavor we were set to accomplish.  Sixty-five (65) individuals filled out a commitment form to become active participants in the project.

By December 2020, 84% of the institutions were surveyed and the initial design phase began. Once the design phase is approved by EDA, we will start the installation: 2,695 solar panels with hurricane-resistant racking in more than 40 sites, AC inverter batteries, metering, and appurtenances that will allow solarizing most of the small business and non-profit organizations in Culebra. The installation is planning to occur on the 2 quarter of 2021.

We thank all our supporters through this GlobalGiving platform, for believing in our work and Culebra's potential of becoming an EMPOWERED community.

* This proposal was presented to EDA in late 2018. During the summer of 2019, a $4 million grant was approved and allowed us to define a specific quantitative goal.