SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Thursday the release of $365 million aimed at installing solar panels and battery storage systems in residences and healthcare facilities throughout Puerto Rico.

Of this funding, up to $190 million will be allocated to Puerto Rico’s Housing Administration, alongside a private entity, specifically to facilitate solar and battery setups in common areas of public housing and in subsidized, multifamily housing units. Additionally, there is a provision of $175 million designated for select healthcare facilities and dialysis centers.

In recent times, the federal government has earmarked substantial funds for various initiatives, including solar farms and the placement of solar panels on homes for low-income families in Puerto Rico.

This funding announcement arrives as the island continues to grapple with persistent power outages, a situation that has deteriorated since Hurricane Maria struck in 2017 as a Category 4 hurricane, crippling the electric grid. These power interruptions are also associated with decades of insufficient maintenance and investment in the electricity infrastructure.

Furthermore, Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority faces ongoing challenges in restructuring its significant debt exceeding $9 billion, which stands as the largest public agency debt in the territory. This struggle persists almost ten years after the government revealed its inability to manage a debt that tops $70 billion.