LAUSR

In 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and proved that the centralized power system model is vulnerable and inadequate in regions prone to natural disasters. Distributed energy resources (DERs) represent opportunities to increase the use of renewable energy while improving preparedness and resiliency in the Caribbean, and while also enabling local socio-economic activities. Social considerations related to DERs include those related to transforming users from passive consumers to active energy actors. To develop recommendations to improve community-based DER initiatives in support of sustainability and resiliency, the authors employed interactions and work from engineering and social science students, as well as meetings with community leaders. Emphasizing a sense of community, social capital, and empowerment were identified as essential aspects for the success of a community-based project. A framework that emphasizes human behavior within the environment (natural and social) was suggested to guide community DER efforts, both within the community and also to deal with external factors such as government policies and social misconceptions. Although this article focuses on Puerto Rico as a test case, the recommendations are applicable to other tropical regions, as well as other isolated areas with weak electric power systems.