Puerto Rican electric utility cancels deal with Whitefish
Oct 29, 2017 21:16:08 GMT
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 29, 2017 21:16:08 GMT
Puerto Rican electric utility cancels deal with Whitefish
BY MAX GREENWOOD - 10/29/17 04:17 PM EDT
Puerto Rico's state-run electric utility said Sunday that it has cancelled a $300 million contract with a small Montana-based energy firm amid mounting controversy over the deal.
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) cut the deal with Whitefish Energy on Sept. 26, just days after Hurricane Maria barrelled across the island, to repair Puerto Rico's crumbling electrical grid.
At the time the storm hit the island, Whitefish had only two full-time employees. The arrangement drew intense scrutiny, with critics arguing that the firm did not have experience working on a project as large in scale as that in Puerto Rico. The island has been without power for more than a month.
The company, however, has argued that its experience working in mountainous terrain qualified it to take on the project.
The arrangement also came under fire because Whitefish is located in the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, though he has said he had no contact with the firm until after it was awarded the PREPA contract.
FEMA also sought to distance itself from the Whitefish deal, saying in a statement last week that the decision to award the contract to the Montana-based company was made by PREPA alone. The White House has also distanced itself from the contract.
Puerto Rico's Gov. Ricardo Rossello called on Sunday for PREPA to "immediately" cancel the deal with Whitefish.
More than a month after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, most of the territory's residents – U.S. citizens – remain without power. As of Sunday afternoon, just under 30 percent of the island had electricity, according to a website maintained by the Puerto Rican government.
thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/357732-puerto-rican-electric-utility-cancels-deal-with-whitefish
There will be lawsuits!! It will last for years........
BY MAX GREENWOOD - 10/29/17 04:17 PM EDT
Puerto Rico's state-run electric utility said Sunday that it has cancelled a $300 million contract with a small Montana-based energy firm amid mounting controversy over the deal.
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) cut the deal with Whitefish Energy on Sept. 26, just days after Hurricane Maria barrelled across the island, to repair Puerto Rico's crumbling electrical grid.
At the time the storm hit the island, Whitefish had only two full-time employees. The arrangement drew intense scrutiny, with critics arguing that the firm did not have experience working on a project as large in scale as that in Puerto Rico. The island has been without power for more than a month.
The company, however, has argued that its experience working in mountainous terrain qualified it to take on the project.
The arrangement also came under fire because Whitefish is located in the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, though he has said he had no contact with the firm until after it was awarded the PREPA contract.
FEMA also sought to distance itself from the Whitefish deal, saying in a statement last week that the decision to award the contract to the Montana-based company was made by PREPA alone. The White House has also distanced itself from the contract.
Puerto Rico's Gov. Ricardo Rossello called on Sunday for PREPA to "immediately" cancel the deal with Whitefish.
More than a month after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, most of the territory's residents – U.S. citizens – remain without power. As of Sunday afternoon, just under 30 percent of the island had electricity, according to a website maintained by the Puerto Rican government.
thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/357732-puerto-rican-electric-utility-cancels-deal-with-whitefish
There will be lawsuits!! It will last for years........
