Puerto Rico - good news possibility?

[razz]

I love Puerto Rico with its longterm history in agriculture and wonderful sunshine. It has really good roots to trigger regrowth. What ideas have you discovered for recovering?

What do you think of this idea in the Christian Science https://www.csmonitor.com/Daily/2017/20171005/Here-s-a-seed-of-hope-for-storm-struck-Puerto-Rico?src=shared Monitor?

The 30 Sec. ReadAfter a devastating tornado in Greensburg, Kansas, a decade ago, residents gathered together and declared they were “blessed with a unique opportunity.” The disaster forced the community to look to its “community treasures”: prairie winds and bright sun. Today Greensburg relies mainly on wind and solar power. In rebuilding, residents relied on energy-efficient standards. The benefits from thinking afresh saved the economy and the town. Could Puerto Rico reinvent itself by also thinking afresh? One idea is to return the economy to its roots – literally. Before World War II, Puerto Rico relied mainly on agriculture, a result of its tropical climate and fertile soil. But a social stigma grew up around farming as the island became urbanized and industrialized. In the past few years, however, some entrepreneurs have tried to break that stigma. About 2,000 new farms have been started. Cultivation has risen about 50 percent. Just as in Greensburg, Puerto Rico’s recovery may lie in seeing a blessing after a storm – and by gaining new appreciation of its basic treasure, a rich landscape in which farmers could someday be honored.

[Yppej]

If they rebuilt with the entire electrical grid underground that would help.

[JaneV2.0]

If they rebuilt with the entire electrical grid underground that would help.

As long as it isn't a privatized grid...

[Yppej]

A private company would be too cheap to do that.

[razz]

I think electricity is undergoing huge change. They have the sunshine for solar and eventually solar will become the norm with improved battery storage. Batteries are getting a lot of improvement due to the electric car development.

How many of the members here have ever visited Puerto Rico to see wha the island actually looks like? To me it looks like an egg laying on its side. The top half is wetter and the bottom half is drier. The wind and water streams brought sailing ships to the island from Portugal and the island could be a valuable food supplier. Their coffee is soooo good.

[Rogar]

I was reading today that Elon Musk has suggested that Puerto Rico might be a good candidate to replace the old grid with solar. With their power system being almost totally destroyed and outdated even before, that might be a good idea. Of course Tesla would be the suggested company doing the work. He's been donating hundreds of battery storage packs to help during power outages.

[Yppej]

I would love to be off the grid. I heard about http:www.smartflower.com but when I contacted the company they did not get back to me.

[razz]

I would encourage different suppliers to take over the responsibility for different parts of the island and each demonstrate what is possible to the world. Privatization could be beneficial if done wisely.


I was reading today that Elon Musk has suggested that Puerto Rico might be a good candidate to replace the old grid with solar. With their power system being almost totally destroyed and outdated even before, that might be a good idea. Of course Tesla would be the suggested company doing the work. He's been donating hundreds of battery storage packs to help during power outages.

[Rogar]

I would encourage different suppliers to take over the responsibility for different parts of the island and each demonstrate what is possible to the world. Privatization could be beneficial if done wisely.

Maybe more than one technology could make for an interesting large scale test, if it were affordable. Tesla is leading in their field and may have proprietary technology, especially for battery storage. What ever the case, they could be the first large scale proving ground for green energy. It could become an example for large cities in other places.

[Rogar]

Since you mentioned it, Razz, you might be interested in this article about a small Montana company that got a great big contract. Sounds like part of your wish is coming true.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/24/559864118/tiny-montana-firm-gets-300-million-contract-to-help-restore-power-in-puerto-rico

[razz]

I read that article and was wondering if it was a good thing or a political ploy for personal gain as the Whitefish company has very little going for it. Usually every utility sends help to get power back up and running and that was declined for some reason. Do you know of any reasons to be positive about this company, Roger?


Since you mentioned it, Razz, you might be interested in this article about a small Montana company that got a great big contract. Sounds like part of your wish is coming true.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/24/559864118/tiny-montana-firm-gets-300-million-contract-to-help-restore-power-in-puerto-rico

[Rogar]

Without more information, I could see a glass half full or half empty. The half full glass is a small company with an opportunity to expand and possibly employee more people in an area that could use economic expansion. Assuming the personnel charges are actually billing rates, they are a far cry from a multi million dollar CEO salary. I know people in professional environmental employments who make in the low six figures, but whose billing rates for overseas work that would help with company overhead and personal benefits would commonly approach the rates quoted. And those do not seem hugely unreasonable, if not relatively affordable. I would just assume that when utility trade organizations would send help to get the power back up do not do this for free, but that information is missing. It would be reasonable to expect a lot of big business bureaucracy to get that going, which could escalate expenses and take longer (or could operate cheaper due to economies of scale.)

The half empty glass is the dotted line connection to Zinke and other issues that point to political shadiness. The fact that there was no bidding could be open for debate. The bare information in the article indicated there was a lack of people willing to do the work.