According to letter, FEMA will end emergency power restoration mission by August 18
Washington, D.C. -- Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Ranking Member Dina Titus (D-NV) sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, urging FEMA to continue the operation of three mega-generators providing power for Puerto Rico. In a July 17, 2018, letter to the Members, FEMA stated that the three mega-generators would be shut down within the next month, even though the mega-generators have been and continue to be critical to Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria and its preparedness efforts for the ongoing 2018 hurricane season.
The generators have been operated as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) mission assignment for emergency power restoration in Puerto Rico.
“Almost a year after Hurricane Maria made landfall, nearly 2,000 customers are still without power. As you know, hurricane season began June 1 and already two hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though Hurricane Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it pummeled the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with strong winds and rain, the storm caused over 40,000 homes and businesses to lose power temporarily in Puerto Rico, highlighting the fragile state of the grid. Between the USACE’s actions, the Governor’s request, the lack of full power restoration, and the continued temporary power outages occurring in Puerto Rico, it is clear that the mega-generators are vital to Puerto Rico’s continued recovery from the 2017 disasters as well as to its preparedness for the 2018 hurricane season,” the Members wrote.
In response to a June 13, 2018, letter from Ranking Member DeFazio, FEMA stated that the mega-generator at the Yabucoa Station would be demobilized as of July 18, 2018, and that the two mega-generators at the Palo Seco Power Plant would be demobilized on August 18, 2018. During the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings hearing on July 18, the USACE informed the Subcommittee that it was working with FEMA to extend the mission assignment for emergency power restoration related to the mega-generators.
In their letter the Members request written justification and a cost-benefit analysis if FEMA decides to shut down the mega-generators in Puerto Rico.
Full text of the letter can be found below.
July 24, 2018
The Honorable William B. "Brock" Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C St. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20024-2523
Dear Administrator Long:
We write to request that you extend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) mission assignment for emergency power restoration in Puerto Rico. We are especially concerned about the need for the lease, operation, and maintenance of three mega-generators in Puerto Rico.
In response to a June 13, 2018, letter from Ranking Member DeFazio, you stated on July 17, 2018,[1] that the mega-generator at the Yabucoa Station would be demobilized as of July 18, 2018, and that the two mega-generators at the Palo Seco Power Plant would be demobilized on August 18, 2018. At the same time, however, you indicated that the Governor of Puerto Rico would be requesting that the lease for the mega-generators continue. Further, during the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings hearing on July 18, the USACE informed the Subcommittee that it was working with FEMA to extend the mission assignment for emergency power restoration related to the mega-generators.
Almost a year after Hurricane Maria made landfall, nearly 2,000 customers are still without power.[2] As you know, hurricane season began June 1 and already two hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though Hurricane Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it pummeled the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with strong winds and rain, the storm caused over 40,000[3] homes and businesses to lose power temporarily in Puerto Rico, highlighting the fragile state of the grid. Between the USACE’s actions, the Governor’s request, the lack of full power restoration, and the continued temporary power outages occurring in Puerto Rico, it is clear that the mega-generators are vital to Puerto Rico’s continued recovery from the 2017 disasters as well as to its preparedness for the 2018 hurricane season.
If you decline to extend the USACE mission assignment for emergency power restoration, please provide to the Committee a written justification establishing that extension of the mission assignment is not necessary. In addition, please provide a cost-benefit analysis to justify de-mobilizing the mega-generators. The cost-benefit analysis should discuss the cost to de-mobilize the mega-generators as well as the anticipated costs to transport and reactivate the generators in the event they are needed again during the current hurricane season.
If you have questions about this request, please contact Janet Erickson with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at (202) 225-9961. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
PETER DeFAZIO DINA TITUS
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Economic Development,
Public Buildings, and Emergency
Management
--30--