Puerto Rico’s new Opportunity Zone map shrinks by nearly 80% — a NAPREC perspective
Treasury and the IRS designated 178 Opportunity Zones in Puerto Rico in the latest federal round, 79.4% fewer than the 863 zones of the original program. The new designations take effect January 1, 2027, and run through December 31, 2036. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Nonprofit reuses solar panels for Río Grande fishermen and Adjuntas homes — a NAPREC perspective
Kind Sun, a New York-based nonprofit, began work on November 5 on a 16.2-kilowatt system with 60 refurbished panels and battery storage at Río Grande’s Villa Pesquera, meant to serve 87 fishermen and keep their catch cold during outages. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Casa Pueblo proposes a regulated solar market — a NAPREC perspective
Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas proposed “Puerto Rico Pueblo Solar,” a regulated market in which homes, businesses and communities would sell surplus solar power to the grid operator at a reference price of 7 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Bill would exempt plug-in solar from permits — a NAPREC perspective
House Bill 1530 would let homeowners, renters and condominium residents install certified solar systems that feed power through a home outlet, without government permits or prior utility approval. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Territories’ delegation shifts to three Democrats and two Republicans — a NAPREC perspective
Former Guam Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco defeated Delegate James Moylan by 662 votes in unofficial results, and Janelle Sarauw won the Virgin Islands seat that Stacey Plaskett is leaving to become governor, Pasquines reported. The territories’ five House members will be three Democrats and two Republicans. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Hispanic Caucus projects a record 55 members after the midterms — a NAPREC perspective
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus projects it will have 55 members in the next Congress, the most since it was founded 50 years ago, and its campaign arm, CHC BOLD PAC, said it is gaining 12 new members, eight of whom flipped Republican-held seats, KUNC reported. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Heinrich, author of Senate statehood bills, in line to chair Energy and Natural Resources — a NAPREC perspective
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, may take over as its chair in January, Source New Mexico reported, as Democrats move into the majority. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Bankruptcy filings rise 3.2% in October — a NAPREC perspective
Puerto Rico recorded 586 bankruptcy filings in October, up 3.2% from a year earlier, according to Boletín de Puerto Rico. Filings for January through October reached 5,283, up 4.8% from the same period in 2025. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
$77 million hotel complex opens in the convention district — a NAPREC perspective
PRISA Group opened Hampton by Hilton San Juan and Homewood Suites by Hilton San Juan, a 257-room complex representing an investment of more than $77 million, raising the district’s hotel inventory from 955 to 1,212 rooms. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
New York Fed: Puerto Rico’s growth has stalled — a NAPREC perspective
At the Oversight Board’s economic symposium on Nov. 4, a Federal Reserve Bank of New York adviser said Puerto Rico’s Economic Activity Index has been largely unchanged since 2023 and employment growth has stalled, while credit card delinquencies and youth migration remain concerns. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Home battery network grows to more than 60,000 customers — a NAPREC perspective
Sunrun said participation in its Puerto Rico home-battery network has doubled to more than 60,000 customers, with nearly 70,000 batteries that can supply electricity to the grid, frequently delivering 45 megawatts for four hours at a time. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Metropistas completes $150 million highway safety phase — a NAPREC perspective
Metropistas said it has largely completed a $150 million phase of safety improvements on PR-20, PR-52, PR-53 and PR-66, and plans to invest another $581.5 million in its two highway concessions over the next decade. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Soto declares victory as the Florida 9th District count stays close — a NAPREC perspective
Representative Darren Soto, the first member of Congress of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida, declared victory in the redrawn 9th District with 143,174 votes, 50.26 percent, to 141,697, 49.74 percent, for Republican Dan Green in unofficial results. The Associated Press had not called the race. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Huffman reelected and poised to chair the committee for the territories — a NAPREC perspective
Representative Jared Huffman of California, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, won reelection with 66.5 percent in early returns and is expected to chair the committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Puerto Rico, when Democrats take the House in January. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Democrats take the Senate: what it means for Puerto Rico — a NAPREC perspective
Democrats will control the Senate in January, CBS News projected, after flipping Republican-held seats in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and Maine. They have secured at least 54 seats, with Alaska and Mississippi still unresolved on November 5. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Democrats win the House majority: what it means for Puerto Rico — a NAPREC perspective
CBS News projected that Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the November 3 midterms. Democrats held 214 seats going in; by November 5, CBS estimated they were on pace for about 256. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Government seeks multiple call-center vendors for agencies — a NAPREC perspective
Puerto Rico’s General Services Administration issued RFP 27J-04466 for a multiple-award contract to provide call-center services to government agencies, exempt entities and municipalities, with proposals to be opened Nov. 30. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Three local chocolate makers plan nearly $3 million in expansions — a NAPREC perspective
Three Puerto Rico chocolate makers, Montadero Chocolate, Puerto Rico Chocolate Corp. and Hacienda Chocolat Corp., plan to invest nearly $3 million in expansions supported by Department of Economic Development and Commerce incentives, creating 19 jobs. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Telecommunications Bureau reviews rules written for copper networks — a NAPREC perspective
Puerto Rico’s Telecommunications Bureau is seeking industry and public comments on updating Regulation No. 7393, which governs approval of telecommunications and cable infrastructure plans, so that it accommodates fiber optics, data centers and smart networks. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
PRASA seeks bids for $51.6 million in water and sewer projects — a NAPREC perspective
The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority is seeking bids on six projects estimated at $51.6 million, led by a $15.93 million sewer rehabilitation in San Sebastián and a $12.88 million raw-water intake for the El Yunque treatment plant in Río Grande. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.