Solar Energy Revolution: Community Power After María

The post-María solar energy movement is one of the most significant acts of practical decolonization in Puerto Rico — communities taking control of their own power, literally.

The Context:
- Puerto Rico receives extraordinary solar resources (approximately 5.5-6.0 peak sun hours daily)
- Before María, less than 3% of electricity came from solar
- PREPA's grid was fossil-fuel dependent (primarily natural gas, petroleum, and coal)
- Electricity costs were 2-3x the mainland average
- María destroyed 100% of the grid — 11 months without full power

The Movement:
After María, communities and organizations began installing solar:
- Resilient Power Puerto Rico: Community solar installations in rural areas
- Casa Pueblo (Adjuntas): The community organization led by Alexis Massol González installed solar on homes, businesses, and community centers — making Adjuntas a model for solar resilience
- Solar cooperatives: Community-owned solar installations providing power to multiple households
- Individual rooftop solar: Thousands of households installed panels (often with battery storage) as insurance against grid failure
- Federal solar tax credits: Made installation more affordable (though navigating federal incentives from a territory adds complexity)

The Numbers:
- Solar installations in Puerto Rico increased dramatically post-María
- By 2023, rooftop solar represented a growing share of total generation
- Puerto Rico's Integrated Resource Plan calls for 100% renewable energy by 2050
- Community organizations argue the transition should happen faster

Opposition and Barriers:
1. LUMA Energy: The privatized grid operator has been criticized for policies that discourage solar adoption (interconnection delays, net metering disputes)
2. FOMB: Fiscal austerity has limited government investment in renewable energy infrastructure
3. Jones Act: Makes solar equipment more expensive to ship to Puerto Rico
4. Fossil fuel interests: Existing fossil fuel companies resist the transition
5. Bureaucratic obstacles: Permitting, interconnection, and inspection processes are slow

The Decolonial Dimension:
Community solar represents a fundamental challenge to the colonial energy model:
- Centralized → distributed: Instead of one vulnerable grid controlled by one entity, thousands of independent solar systems create resilience
- External → local: Instead of importing fossil fuels (at Jones Act prices), Puerto Rico uses its own sunlight
- Corporate → community: Instead of paying LUMA/PREPA, communities generate their own power
- Dependent → sovereign: Energy independence is a prerequisite for political independence

Casa Pueblo's motto applies: 'Se hace camino al andar' — the path is made by walking. Puerto Rico is building energy sovereignty one solar panel at a time.