Financing is for 220 megawatts of battery energy storage systems
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing has finalized a $489.4 million loan to Amanecer Puerto Rico LLC, a Pattern Energy subsidiary, marking one of the Trump Administration’s largest recent federal investments aimed at stabilizing Puerto Rico’s grid and reducing long-term energy costs.
The financing package supports the development of 220 megawatts of battery energy storage systems in Arecibo and Santa Isabel, using American-made technology and domestically secured supply chains. DOE projects the investment will yield approximately $312.5 million in electricity cost savings over 25 years for Puerto Rican consumers and businesses.
Gregory A. Beard, director of the Office of Energy Dominance Financing, said the loan reflects the administration’s strategy of pairing energy security with domestic industrial policy. “This investment will strengthen Puerto Rico’s electric grid, lower electricity costs, support American manufacturing, and provide a pathway for the reliable, dispatchable power needed to deliver affordable, reliable, and secure energy for the people of Puerto Rico,” Beard said.
The loan follows a restructuring of DOE’s original financing plan after a review by the Trump Administration, which sought to align the project with priorities including lower energy costs, strengthened U.S. manufacturing, and deployment of reliable, secure infrastructure.
The battery systems are designed to provide backup power for more than 100,000 customers and reduce outage-related losses, with DOE estimating they could help avoid roughly 13 million customer interruption hours based on 2025 grid data. The project also establishes a foundation for future natural gas-fired generation intended to enhance grid stability and long-term energy security.
For Pattern Energy, the loan represents a significant federal endorsement of its Puerto Rico strategy, positioning the company to expand its footprint in a market where reliability challenges have created demand for new storage and generation assets.
The investment complements DOE’s emergency orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, which since 2025 have authorized critical generation to maintain service on the island. Federal support for vegetation management and transmission maintenance has also been part of the administration’s efforts to improve grid performance ahead of peak demand and hurricane season.
Under President Trump’s leadership, DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing has emphasized financing projects that reinforce U.S. energy security and domestic manufacturing. The Puerto Rico loan fits squarely within that portfolio, signaling continued federal interest in large-scale energy infrastructure on the island.
