§2213 Critical Projects

Summary

Project sponsors can send any existing, ongoing, or planned project to the Revitalization Coordinator while the Oversight Board is active. The Coordinator must get basic details: how the project affects emergencies, what immediate private or other funding is available, total cost and any Puerto Rico government money needed, the environmental and economic benefits (including jobs for Puerto Rico residents and any effect on ratepayers), and the project’s current status. The Coordinator can also ask for extra information for energy projects, like whether the project will cut oil use, boost efficiency, switch fuels to natural gas or renewables, use local energy sources, help move toward privatized generation, support the Energy Commission’s goals, or follow a specific study’s recommendations. Within 20 days of getting a project, the Coordinator must name all Puerto Rico agencies involved in permitting. Each named agency then has 20 days to give its expedited permitting process. If an agency misses that deadline, the Coordinator and the Governor must make one in 20 days. Agencies must use this expedited process and give Critical Projects top priority. The Coordinator, working with the Governor and those agencies, must make a Critical Project Report within 60 days that rates the project, includes the Governor’s recommendation, and gets required input from the Planning Board or Energy Commission when land-use or electric plans are affected. The report goes public for 30 days of comment; the Coordinator must reply to comments within 30 days after the comment period closes and then send the report to the Oversight Board within 5 days. The Oversight Board then has 30 days to approve or reject the project by a majority vote. If approved, the project is a Critical Project; if rejected, the Board must give written reasons.