New York Leaders Pledge Support for Puerto Rico After Midterm Wins

Mamdani and Hochul said the election results could create fresh opportunities to deliver resources and hold the federal government accountable for its commitments to Puerto Rico. Mamdani described the island’s difficulties as a political crisis shaped by policy decisions, while Hochul called the election outcome a new day for the territory and urged renewed support for energy, health care and nutrition programs.

The officials were visiting for the annual Somos Conference. On Friday, they met with local nonprofits as Hispanic Federation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced a $280,000 partnership. The funding is intended to expand water storage at 10 community resilience centers, with some sites also receiving rainwater collection, kitchen infrastructure and solar power with battery storage.

The effort comes as Puerto Rico faces recurring outages and water disruptions while rebuilding after Hurricane Maria and other disasters. Federal energy officials have redirected funding initially intended for solar projects toward maintaining the island’s deteriorated power grid. The Trump administration’s cancellation of solar initiatives has drawn anger on the island.

Last week, six Puerto Rico residents sued the U.S. Department of Energy and Secretary Chris Wright over the termination of a federally funded $1 billion solar and battery program. The residents say their medical needs depend on electricity and are asking a judge to order the program restored. The department said Friday it is working with Puerto Rico’s governor to stabilize the grid and criticized the previous administration’s approach.

A nonprofit that was part of the federal program said it lost an estimated $16 million to $20 million in funding after completing about a third of its planned projects. Barrio Eléctrico serves more than 500 families and had been positioned to provide resilient power to 1,200.

Democratic Wins Put Puerto Rico’s Abandoned Energy Needs Back in Focus

Puerto Rico’s power crisis is not simply a natural disaster: Mamdani said policy decisions have helped make it a political crisis. He and Hochul used their visit to argue that Democrats’ midterm gains should bring accountability and renewed resources for an island confronting recurring blackouts and water disruptions.

Hochul called for support for energy resilience, health care and nutrition, while Mamdani said the election could create a chance to deliver for working people. Their message comes as the Trump administration’s cancellation of solar projects has left residents and nonprofits facing lost funding and uncertainty.

Six Puerto Rico residents last week sued the Department of Energy and Secretary Chris Wright after a federally funded $1 billion solar and battery program was ended. The plaintiffs say medical equipment and medicines depend on reliable electricity, and asked a judge to restore the program. One resident, a diabetic who needs refrigerated insulin, also has a son who needs an electric nebulizer for asthma.

The administration says the money originally intended for solar projects will help maintain the island’s weakened grid. But a nonprofit that had been part of the program said it lost an estimated $16 million to $20 million after completing only about a third of its projects. A new $280,000 partnership announced during the visit will support water storage at 10 community resilience centers, with some also receiving solar and battery systems.

Puerto Rico Needs a Reliable Grid as Leaders Promise New Federal Support

Puerto Rico’s immediate challenge is keeping its deteriorated power grid working. During a visit to the island, Hochul said the federal government should renew its commitment, while Mamdani framed the territory’s problems as the result of political decisions. Both tied their hopes for more assistance to Democratic midterm gains.

The Department of Energy says funds initially designated for solar projects will instead help maintain the grid, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria and weakened by years of limited maintenance and investment. The department said it is working with Puerto Rico’s governor to stabilize the system and criticized the previous administration for prioritizing its energy agenda over an affordable, reliable and secure grid.

The cancellation of a federal solar and battery program has led six residents to sue the department and Secretary Chris Wright. They say their health needs depend on electricity and want a judge to order the program reinstated. The lawsuit puts the costs of the policy dispute in sharp relief, while the department’s stated focus is stabilizing the island’s broader electricity network.

A separate $280,000 partnership announced during the visit will expand water storage at 10 community resilience centers; some will also get rainwater collection, kitchen infrastructure and solar power with battery storage. The island continues to deal with power outages and water disruptions as it rebuilds after major disasters.