Millions In Darkness: LULAC Calls For Immediate Action From President Biden As Puerto Rico Welcomes 2025 In Blackout
Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Urges Incoming Administration to Take a Fresh Look at Long-term Solutions for the Island's Energy Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) calls for immediate and decisive action following a massive power outage that has left nearly all of Puerto Rico's 3.2 million residents in darkness as the island attempts to celebrate the arrival of 2025. The systemwide blackout, attributed to a fault in an underground line, has plunged the U.S. territory into crisis, with only 13% of its 1.4 million utility customers having electricity as of this morning. According to government officials, complete restoration could take up to 48 hours or several days.
"LULAC is saddened and outraged over the massive outage," says Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "Millions of people are once again having to endure inhumane conditions that threaten their health and well-being in a region that has suffered so much since Hurricane Maria in 2017. More than 2,975 men, women, and children lost their lives, and the natural disaster caused more than $100 billion in damages, including to critical infrastructure, much of it never fully restored," adds Palomares.
The scale of the blackout is both a humanitarian and systemic failure, underscoring the urgent need for long-term energy solutions on the island. LULAC leaders are urging immediate assistance from the Biden administration and calling on President-elect Donald Trump to prioritize Puerto Rico's energy infrastructure once he takes office.
"We call upon both the Biden administration now for immediate action and Donald Trump when he becomes president to help address the future needs of Puerto Rico," says Mari Corugedo, LULAC National Vice President for the Southeastern United States. "This latest power blackout highlights the urgent need for a long-term solution to improve the island's energy infrastructure. We need a more reliable and resilient power grid to prevent the outages that have become all too frequent. It's time for a comprehensive approach to address these challenges and secure a more sustainable energy future for Puerto Rico. We must act with urgency," says Corugedo.
"What has happened today is the result of two situations," says Carlos Fajardo, LULAC State Director for Puerto Rico. "We have the chronic lack of investment with deteriorating power plants. Also, this outage demands a fresh look at whether we need a new national company involved in power generation. It has been years since Hurricane Maria, and while construction work has been underway, we must move faster and make sure that we are truly addressing the underlying needs of Puerto Rico," he added.
LULAC urges bipartisan collaboration to implement meaningful and sustainable solutions for Puerto Rico's energy crisis. As millions suffer through another preventable disaster, the call for action grows louder. This is not merely an energy issue but a matter of human rights and dignity.
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About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.