Statement of PR Green Energy Trust President and CEO Nellie Gorbea on $156.1M EPA “Solar for All” Award

Today, a public-private coalition including the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust, the Office of Management and Budget of the Government of Puerto Rico, the ENLACE Project of Caño Martín Peña, and the Public Housing Authority received a $156.1 million award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust's President and Chief Executive Officer Nellie Gorbea made the following statement after the announcement:

"Today, at the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust, we are celebrating Earth Day with this historic grant. These funds for the transformation of green energy on the Island represent an unprecedented opportunity to improve the quality of life for all Puerto Ricans. This is a milestone in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy efficiency, and build a more resilient energy infrastructure for our most vulnerable families. At the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust, under the leadership of our Chair Francisco Berríos Portela and Board of Trustees’ members Doira Díaz, PJ Wilson, Sergio Carrillo, Roy Torbert, Jorge Camacho and Juan C. Díaz-Galarza, we stand ready to set up and deploy these investments.

We appreciate the joint efforts of Governor Pedro Pierluisi's team and the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Juan Carlos Blanco, who made this coalition possible for the benefit of Puerto Rico. With this generous award, the Biden Harris Administration has shown its commitment to addressing climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gases in ways that truly help regular folks. We are all committed to accelerating the adoption of green energy on the Island."

The Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust was created as an independent, nonprofit organization through Act 17 of 2019. The Trust enables access to green energy to improve the quality of life in Puerto Rico. Our vision is to ensure access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy for all in Puerto Rico. Prior to this award, the Trust had received grant funding from the Leon Lowenstein Foundation and the Government of Puerto Rico. The Trust is also working on additional funding through the Coalition for Green Capital and CT Green Bank in the EPA’s National Clean Investment Fund award program.

Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust Board Appoints Nellie M. Gorbea Díaz as President and Chief Executive Officer

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- The board of trustees of the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust announced today the appointment of Nellie M. Gorbea Díaz as its first President and Chief Executive Officer. The Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust is an independent, nonprofit organization created to foster and fund research, development and infrastructure projects that promote clean and renewable energy in Puerto Rico.

“We are excited to announce the appointment of Nellie M. Gorbea Diaz as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Green Energy Trust. Her vast experience in establishing and leading non-profit organizations focused on public policy, as well as the successful implementation of strategic plans in public service, will be vital to fulfilling our mission of promoting the use of renewable energy in Puerto Rico,” stated Francisco Berríos Portela, chairman of the board of trustees. Gorbea Díaz will be instrumental in leading this Trust, which aims to support the transformation of our energy sector to clean and renewable energy, thanks to her vast expertise in the public and nonprofit sectors in both the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. One of the main challenges currently facing the Island and the world right now is the transition to green energy,” said Berríos Portela.

“I am fully committed to making Puerto Rico more energy efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly. It is an honor to return to my native Puerto Rico and lead the Green Energy Trust's efforts to ensure greater economic opportunities and a better quality of life for Puerto Ricans with a green energy future. I am aware that I am now a part of a growing number of government, business, and the civil society efforts in Puerto Rico that are contributing to this vital task. The Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust provides a unique opportunity to leverage funds into green energy projects and build upon Puerto Rico's wealth of local resources, including its people, universities, and geography so that we can make the shift to 100% renewable energy by 2050,” added the Trust’s new President.

Puerto Rico native Gorbea Díaz has a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University with a focus on Financial Management and a bachelor's degree in Public Policy and International Relations from Princeton University. Her career spans successful leadership roles in the public, nonprofit and banking sectors. Most recently, she served two terms as Rhode Island’s Secretary of State – the first Hispanic in New England elected to statewide office. Prior to holding elected office, Gorbea Diaz was the first executive director of HousingWorks RI – a coalition created to address the need for affordable homes in Rhode Island. As a program officer at The Rhode Island Foundation, Gorbea Díaz led the foundation’s first investments in community economic development. Early in her career, Gorbea Díaz also worked in public finance through positions at the former Fleet Securities in Boston, the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico and as Economic Advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico. Her achievements in the public and community sectors have nationally elevated her as an effective Latina leader.

The Green Energy Trust, a private non-profit entity, was enabled as part of Puerto Rico's Energy Public Policy Act (Law 17 of 2019) and further defined by a public Declaration of Trust. The Trust is managed by a seven member board of experts in the green energy, environmental, private and government sectors, six of who are private sector members.

For more information about the Puerto Rico Green Energy Trust, please visit www.prgreenenergytrust.org.