§2213 Critical Projects

Summary

Project sponsors may send any current, ongoing, or planned project to the Revitalization Coordinator while the Oversight Board is active. The submission must say how the project affects emergencies, what private money or guarantees are available, the project cost and any Puerto Rico government money needed, the environmental and economic benefits (including jobs for residents and any impact on utility customers), and the project’s current status. The Coordinator can also ask for extra information about energy goals, like cutting oil use for power, boosting energy efficiency, moving to natural gas or renewables, using local energy sources, shifting to private generation, supporting lower consumer energy costs, or following a completed study’s recommendations. After a submission, the Coordinator has 20 days to name the Puerto Rico agencies that will be involved. Those agencies must give an expedited permitting plan within 20 days, or the Coordinator and Governor will make one in 20 days. The agencies must fast-track so-called Critical Projects. Within 60 days the Coordinator, working with the Governor and agencies, must write a Critical Project Report that assesses the criteria and includes the Governor’s recommendation. If the Planning Board or the Energy Commission finds a project conflicts with land-use or energy plans, the project cannot be a Critical Project. The report is published for 30 days of public comment, the Coordinator must reply within 30 days, then within 5 days send the report to the Oversight Board. The Oversight Board has 30 days to vote. If it approves, the project is a Critical Project. If it rejects the project, it must give written reasons.