Tamales!Solar Power for Puerto Rico

Another hurricane season is coming up shortly and residents of the towns of Ceiba and Yabucoa, Puerto Rico are among the half-million still without power. I'm raising funds along with some of my neighbors to implement solar mini-grid projects in a handful of carefully selected locations in Ceiba and Yabucoa so residents do not have to wait for the island's power lines to be restored in order to have electricity for their refrigerators, air conditioners, and charging of electronics for communications. These solar projects will also reduce the dependence on expensive and polluting diesel fuel that runs the few generators that are on hand, like the one pictured above - all diesel fuel has to be imported onto the island, while sun is an abundant and almost limitless resource!

The red generator in the picture is at the Yabucoa Elder Care Center, a facility that provides health care and assisted living for many seniors. They have a generator because they must be able to keep medicines cold, cook and store food, and do laundry for their residents. But they can only afford the diesel to run the generator half the day, so the residents don't have fans, air conditioners, or lights at night. Our technical partner, Global Solace, has identified this as a priority project where the installation of a small 3.6 kilowatt solar array and battery backup system will provide a major benefit. This project will cost about $25,000, a modest amount for the benefits it will generate, now and into the future, but far beyond the means of the community, which has yet to receive any significant support from FEMA or other agencies.

This is what is still happening in Puerto Rico, after the initial coverage of the hurricane that struck months ago has ended. You might have forgotten about it by now, but the people living there certainly have not. Imagine if it were you, or someone you loved, in need of assistance.



I'm asking for your help in reaching out and restoring  some semblance of normalcy to the lives of the residents of Yabucoa. But that's not all. You get tamales in return! I'm no Jose Andres, and I can't go cook for the people of Puerto Rico, but I can cook to thank you for contributing! If you don't want tamales, or you just want to do more, please consider donating more online at Global Solace .

DONATIONS MUST BE MADE BY MARCH 17 TO RESERVE YOUR TAMALES. TAMALE PICK-UP WILL BE APRIL 7-8. I'LL SEND OUT FURTHER PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS ONCE THE FUNDRAISER IS CLOSED.

Buen provecho!