In the wake of the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria that ravaged Puerto Rico in late 2017, tech mogul Elon Musk took it upon himself to lend a helping hand. While many criticized his endeavors as merely a publicity stunt, it would be disingenuous to disregard the immense amount of aid Musk provided. From setting up solar battery storage grids, to revitalizing the island’s children’s hospital with new technology and energy, the island of Puerto Rico has seen a great many benefits thanks to Elon Musk.
Soon after the hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, Elon Musk reached out to Governor Ricardo Rosselló, offering to aid in the recovery process. A close friend of Musk and part-time Musk acquaintances, Tesla had set up two solar power systems with Tesla battery storage systems as early as October 2017. The new solar-powered batteries were complementary of Tesla Powerpacks and inverters and totaled at a cost of a whopping $250,000.
The site that Musk found viable enough to place the new battery storage units were two disaster relief centers run by supporters of the island’s governor in the town of Las Piedras. The two centers have since been able to benefit from abundant solar power stored in the Tesla Powerpacks and inverters, enabling them to exchange many gas-powered generators and become almost entirely energy-independent. These solar energy batteries are also equipped with a built-in monitoring system, enabling officials to track the batteries’ energy output levels on a minute-to-minute basis.
It wasn’t just the disaster relief centers in Las Piedras that have seen a benefit from Elon musk’s presence in Puerto Rico. In December 2017, Tesla unveiled new solar panels and Panasonic batteries at the San Juan children’s hospital. This was a monumental change; the children’s hospital had formerly been completely reliant on public electricity and inefficient back-up generators.
With the new solar paneling, the hospital has seen a greater capacity for electricity that can be stored and transferred significantly more efficiently. The 32 Powerpacks that were installed at the hospital are capable of storing and sustaining over 6,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy. This is a monumental upgrade from the inefficient back-up generators that had been in place before the new Tesla units were installed.
When all is said and done, Elon Musk’s interventions in Puerto Rico have set a precedent of action taken by a corporate titan. Where many companies on the United States mainland simply paid lip-service to the victims on the island, Musk led by example and showed that widespread aid and support could be offered. From state of the art solar pane offerings with the latest energy-efficient technology, to sending the kids of Puerto Rico the Tesla billboard generator – which, of course, was inscribed with the phrase “Tesla loves Puerto Rico” – it would be ludicrous to suggest that the presence of Elon Musk and Tesla had no beneficial effect on the people of Puerto Rico.
Solar Paneling in the Home Sector
In the aftermath of Elon musk’s interventions in Puerto Rico, many home owners on the island began to consider solar paneling as a feasible solution for powering their homes. This is primarily due to the fact that, for many, the local public power grid is either unstable or completely unavailable. Moreover, the prospect of free electricity from the sun has been an exciting change for many citizens on the island.
Indeed, the number of residential solar energy projects in Puerto Rico has seen an immense boost since Musk’s interventions on the ground. In 2016, solar energy projects across the island numbered only 64. By 2018, this figure had skyrocketed to 801. The effect of the increase in home solar energy projects has been especially visible in the Mayagüez community, located on the west coast.
In Mayagüez, which struggles with the frequent cut-offs to public electricity, solar energy has proven to be an ample solution for many citizens. After the cold-snap of 2019, for example, numerous families were able to keep their homes warm thanks to solar energy. This was mainly due to the islandwide boosts in the solar energy industry that has taken place since Elon Musk’s Tesla interventions.
Additionally, many citizens of Puerto Rico have started to regard Musk’s solutions to the island’s energy issues as a viable if not invaluable solution to the ongoing energy crisis. The island is also making further strides in terms of renewable energy, pushing for more distributed energy solutions with the help of companies such as Tesla. From home solar projects to the installation of public batteries for the hospitals and homes, the people of Puerto Rico are receiving the necessary aid to help them power their lives.
The level of aid that Musk has provided to Puerto Rico has been a pointed reminder of how much can be achieved with vision, dedication and generous donations from those who can. Tesla and its team of engineers and executives have become a beacon of hope for the Puerto Rican people, offering them a lasting and sustainable solution for their energy crisis that will no doubt be a major boon for years to come.
Coming Back From Natural Disasters
Elon Musk and Tesla have also provided actual on ground support in the form of resources and manpower to help those affected by the natural disasters. This marks a major change from purely an energy-saving standpoint, as the island is also on the road to economic recovery after the hurricane.
When Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was destroyed by the hurricanes, Elon Musk provided resources and manpower to help rebuild it. This included sending teams of engineers and Tesla employees to the island to assess the damage and help with the structure extents. These teams were also responsible for supervising and setting up the the 32 Solar Panels installed in the San Juan Children’s Hospital, as well as the Solar Battery Storage System in Las Piedras. This participation of actual people shows a level of dedication from Musk and Tesla to help rebuild Puerto Rico in a very hands-on way.
In addition, Musk has lent his substantial financial and political clout to aid the island in its recovery efforts. In the wake of the hurricanes, Musk and Tesla provided aid in the form of financial donations in the form of donations to relief efforts, as well as investments in new energy infrastructure projects. This was in addition to the on-ground personnel that the company provided to help set up the solar energy grids. These donations show that Musk is not simply here to “cash in” on the suffering of Puerto Rico, and that he is dedicated to providing true and tangible solutions to the island’s energy woes.
Finally, Musk and Tesla have helped provide the island not only with energy solutions, but also with job opportunities. The teams of Tesla personnel and engineers sent on the island created job opportunities, as the teams had to be accompanied by other personnel for on-ground assistance. As a result, many citizens of Puerto Rico have been directly employed in the work done by Tesla to set up the Solar Panels and the Solar Battery Storage System, and many more have been employed in the auxiliary positions created by Tesla’s presence on the island.
Perhaps the most rewarding effect of Elon Musk’s interventions in Puerto Rico is how it will serve as an example for other powerful global figures. His efforts go far beyond the realm of charity, as he has provided both immediate and potentially life-saving aid to the suffering people of Puerto Rico. By showing that it is indeed possible to provide tangible solutions to natural disasters, especially those occurring on islands that are far away, Musk and Tesla have sent a powerful message to the world.
Rebuilding Puerto Rico’s Energy Grid
The economic and energy-related impact that Elon Musk and Tesla have had in Puerto Rico has helped restore the island’s energy grid to a more sustainable and eco-friendly state. This was done in various ways, but the most prominent ones were the solar power projects and the 32 Powerpacks that were installed at the San Juan Children’s Hospital.
The solar power projects provided a much needed source of free energy. In addition to providing free energy, the projects also provide a form of energy-storage compared to gas-powered generators. This was of particular importance when public power grids were either not available or unstable in Puerto Rico. By having a form of sustainable energy-storage, citizens of the island were able to retain a stable and reliable source of electricity.
The installation of the Powerpacks also provided an improved source of electrical storage. Each pack is capable of storing and sustaining over 6,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, making it possible to provide energy to more people in remote areas where public power was unavailable. This is a major improvement compared to the inefficient back-up generators installed before the Tesla Powerpacks were set up.
The Powerpacks also utilized a built-in monitoring system to track the output of the batteries, enabling local officials to keep an eye on the power levels and make adjustments accordingly.
Overall, the presence of Elon Musk and Tesla in Puerto Rico and their aid in restoring the energy grid to a more sustainable state have shown that while natural disasters can cause immense damage, they do not have to have a lasting negative effect.
By installing solar power projects and energy-storage systems, as well as providing manpower and financial clout to the restoration effort, Musk and Tesla have proved themselves to be invaluable allies to the people of Puerto Rico. Their actions have gone beyond mere charity, and have created real, lasting and positive change on the island.
Reaching Out to the Less Fortunate
Another effect of Elon Musk and Tesla’s interventions in Puerto Rico has been how they have reached out to the less fortunate. During their time in the island, the team of engineers and Tesla personnel had to work directly with the locals, offering them a direct hands-on experience in the development of renewable energy projects.
One of the most noteworthy instances of direct aid from Musk and Tesla was the installation of solar-powered billboards. These billboards, inscribed with the phrase “Tesla Loves Puerto Rico”, were set up in many areas where public energy infrastructure was either too weak or unavailable. These billboards served as a symbol of hope for the citizens of the island, offering them a source of sustainable energy that they can rely on.
In addition to setting up solar-powered billboards, Elon Musk and Tesla also provided locals with job opportunities. This was done in various forms, fewer of which were direct job opportunities provided by the company, but more in the form of auxiliary positions created by their presence on the island. This enabled many people in the local community to benefit indirectly from Musk and Tesla’s presence in Puerto Rico.
Moreover, the solar panel installation projects in the homes of many people in the island provided a very direct benefits for those less fortunate. Since great numbers in the island are not connected to public power grids, solar energy was already a viable solution for many of the less privileged citizens on the island. With the help of Elon Musk and Tesla, this solution became even more viable, as citizens were able to take advantage of the new solar-powered technology offered by the company.
Finally, Tesla’s presence in Puerto Rico also provided an invaluable lesson for other powerful global figures. It is indeed possible to provide real and tangible aid in the aftermath of natural disasters, with vision, dedication and generous donations from those who can. With their actions, Elon Musk and Tesla have set a powerful precedent of how to help those affected by natural disasters and have shown that simple donations are no longer enough.
