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Puerto Rico Turns to Unproven Montana Company for Massive Power Restoration Job,But No One Knows Why
Facing the destruction of almost its entire electrical grid after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico turned to a little-known Montana company to restore power rather than rely on a vast network of public power companies that usually comes to the rescue after disasters.
Overall, progress has been slow and uneven, stoking concerns about whether the unproven company is up to the task – and raising questions about the irregular way in which the territorial government awarded the contract. Ordinarily, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides money and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees federally led recovery efforts after a disaster. Neither agency said it had a role in awarding or supervising the contract Puerto Rico awarded to restore its power lines.
...“To date, PREPA has not requested aid from the Association; rather, it has engaged Whitefish to marshal the resources required to undertake power restoration,” the power authority stated. “Communications with PREPA and Whitefish have been difficult due to the telecommunications issues on the island.”
The contract was reportedly awarded through a phone call placed in the days immediately after Maria hit. A PREPA employee who happened to have a satellite phone and phone number for Whitefish made the call, according a story published by E&E News, an independent news organization that focuses on energy and environmental issues.
Overall, progress has been slow and uneven, stoking concerns about whether the unproven company is up to the task – and raising questions about the irregular way in which the territorial government awarded the contract. Ordinarily, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides money and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees federally led recovery efforts after a disaster. Neither agency said it had a role in awarding or supervising the contract Puerto Rico awarded to restore its power lines.
...“To date, PREPA has not requested aid from the Association; rather, it has engaged Whitefish to marshal the resources required to undertake power restoration,” the power authority stated. “Communications with PREPA and Whitefish have been difficult due to the telecommunications issues on the island.”
The contract was reportedly awarded through a phone call placed in the days immediately after Maria hit. A PREPA employee who happened to have a satellite phone and phone number for Whitefish made the call, according a story published by E&E News, an independent news organization that focuses on energy and environmental issues.
https://weather.com/news/news/puerto-rico-power-whitefish
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