Case Study: Puerto Rico

Community-led solutions are rebuilding the island's infrastructure and creating quality green jobs.

Puerto Rico is an island in climate and economic crisis.

Located in the Caribbean, the U.S. territory has been repeatedly hit by hurricanes, which cause massive flooding and knock out power to the entire island. An unreliable power grid can bring commerce to a halt for days, even weeks, at a time.

Skilled and educated individuals have historically left the island seeking better opportunities on the mainland. This exodus has profoundly impacted the island's ability to recover and stabilize economically.

A shift is underway.

While federal and local government efforts continue to create a more dependable power grid, a community-based effort is underway to enhance the island's infrastructure.

Initiatives like Resilient Power Puerto Rico and El Departamento de la Comida are pioneering sustainable solutions that address immediate recovery needs and aim for long-term self-sufficiency.

In this WorkingNation film The Fight for Puerto Rico’s Recovery, we meet the local residents and returnees who are contributing to Puerto Rico’s recovery and the rebuilding of their communities and workforce.