Congress makes the decisions for Puerto Rico, under the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The president must sign any bills Congress creates for territories, but Congress must make the decisions. However, the current administration has another important player apart from the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Tech mogul Elon Musk, the First Buddy, has a great deal of influence in the current administration. So what does he have to say about Puerto Rico?
Energy
Back in 2017, Musk said that he could fix Puerto Rico’s electrical grid. Tesla did send some batteries and also did some work toward microgrids, but the project failed by 2019. According to The Huffington Post, regulations were an obstacle to Tesla’s plans and the people left behind to care for the technology Tesla delivered did not receive the training or support needed. The items that were delivered were left to disintegrate and never worked.
Earlier this month, though, Puerto Rico invested federal funds in batteries from Tesla. The batteries, part of the Tesla Mega Pack system, are expected to provide the same amount of electricity as the largest power plant now in Puerto Rico.
“We are addressing the energy crisis by taking action to stabilize the system and ensure a reliable, modern, and accessible electric service for all,” said Governor González-Colón at a signing ceremony. “The signing of the contract for the acquisition of 430 MW in Energy Storage Systems, which does not cost the people as it comes from federal funds, does not increase emissions, is part of the movement toward new energy sources, and can greatly reduce power outages. It is a decisive step in the implementation of our energy policy focused on diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. It also creates a more attractive environment for investment and business growth by improving the reliability of the electric supply and reducing the costs associated with interruptions.”
This is a business opportunity for Elon Musk, which makes it different from the plans made in 2017, but it does build on the technologies used in the initial efforts. The Puerto Rico project is the largest battery project currently underway in the United States, and is expected to be completed in 2027.
Recent remarks
More recently, on a podcast hosted by Joe Rogan, Musk brought up the old story that Democrats want to make Puerto Rico a state in order to get two more Democratic senators. Musk added the spurious claim that Democrats were also “importing illegals” to turn current states Democratic, but otherwise it is the familiar false narrative.
“The reason I went so hardcore for Trump was because to me this was a fork in the road,” Musk said, describing what he saw as a Democratic plan. “If they had another four years, they would legalize enough illegals in the swing states to make the swing states not swing states. They would just, they would be blue states. Then they would win the presidential, they’d win the House, the Senate and the Presidency. They would then make D.C. into a state, maybe Puerto Rico, get four extra senators, pack the Supreme Court. So then you’ll have the House, Judiciary, Senate and presidency all blue. And then they will keep importing more illegals to cement that outcome.”
In fact, Puerto Rico is not likely to be a blue state and statehood is a bipartisan project. Both Republicans and Democrats support statehood, both in Congress and among the voters, as a recent YouGov poll proves. In fact, Independents also support statehood. The desire to see justice and equality for Puerto Rico through statehood transcends political positions.
We are disappointed to hear that Musk accepts this anti-factual story, but we hear it very frequently. Having just made a lucrative deal with the Republican Governor of Puerto Rico, Musk may be able to see that Puerto Rico has room for more than one political viewpoint.
Whether your legislators are Democrats or Republicans. please reach out to them and make sure they know that you support statehood and that you want to see them on the right side of history. Elon Musk has not been elected to Congress, so he cannot make decisions for Puerto Rico. Your congressional representatives can.
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