30-06-2025
Puerto Rico's solar-powered village: in pictures
Puerto Rico has struggled with an energy crisis for years. Residents pay, on average, twice as much as people on the US mainland for electricity and yet they experience frequent power outages, thanks to an ageing grid and devastating natural disasters. Casa Pueblo, founded in the mountain town of Adjuntas in 1980, aims to bring energy independence to its community Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
In 2023, Puerto Rico launched a community-owned solar microgrid, the island's first. Today the town's five microgrids provide 228 kilowatts of photovoltaic capacity and additional storage to homes and 15 local businesses. Casa Pueblo regularly hosts researchers and students who come from around the globe to learn about the town's community-based energy-resilience project Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Casa Pueblo's Energy Independence Plaza is home to a 'solar forest' – fixtures that resemble trees but whose branches are solar panels – and an open-air community center Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
A large-scale solar farm in Humacao. Puerto Rico aims to produce 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050 Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Alexis Massol González (right) co-founded Casa Pueblo with his wife, Tinti Deyá Díaz. Their son, Arturo Massol Deyá (left), now runs the organization Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Adjuntas's main plaza doubles as a solar-powered microgrid, supplying many local homes and businesses with renewable, reliable energy Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Radio Casa Pueblo broadcasts over airwaves and online, with music and programs on social and environmental issues, democratizing access to telecommunications in the process Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
During recent blackouts that left the entire Puerto Rican archipelago in darkness, Adjuntas remained alight, thanks to the microgrid Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
At the public café-museum, beans harvested from Casa Pueblo's solar-powered finca are roasted on site Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Casa Pueblo's public community center is covered by 114 photovoltaic solar panels that power an 80-kilowatt-hour battery bank that is available to the public to charge their phones or power other devices Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
'We call it the living lab,' says Arturo Massol Deyá. 'We are actively gaining knowledge that will be helping others improve design for renewable energy transitions' Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
Casa Pueblo also hosts a solar-powered butterfly sanctuary and solar cinema, screening free films and documentaries for the public Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
In May, the Trump administration announced it would redirect more than $300m in climate grants meant to build out, among other things, rooftop solar projects to fossil fuel plants. Massol Deyá said the move only underscored the importance of Casa Pueblo's work towards energy independence for Puerto Rico. 'Energy security intersects with all elements of society: education, food security, health, entertainment, social justice, local economies,' he said. 'We view energy security as a basic human right'
Photograph: Jesse Ilan Kornbluth
