Lawsuit challenges Department of Energy's termination of solar and battery installations for thousands of vulnerable households, including residents who depend on electricity for life-saving medical equipment
PUERTO RICO — Today, six Puerto Rico residents filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration's Department of Energy (DOE) and Secretary Chris Wright, challenging the cancellation of a $1 billion congressionally funded program designed to provide reliable solar power and battery storage to low-income households and people with disabilities.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico by Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico, argues DOE unlawfully terminated the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) and moved to redirect funding away from vulnerable households and toward the island's existing electrical grid, contrary to congressional intent.
Read the full complaint HERE
Congress established the fund in 2022 following Hurricanes Maria and Fiona to protect vulnerable residents from Puerto Rico's frequent and prolonged power outages. When DOE terminated the program in January 2026, approximately 6,000 households had received solar and battery systems, while more than 12,000 additional households had been approved for installations that had not yet been completed.
The six plaintiffs include residents who rely on electricity-powered breathing equipment, oxygen concentrators, and refrigerated medications. Several had already signed installation agreements or spent thousands of dollars preparing their homes for solar systems that never arrived.
Among the experiences detailed in the complaint:
Sara Dalis Mercado Guzman, a Bayamón resident with serious respiratory conditions, spent approximately $5,800 repairing her roof in preparation for an approved solar installation. She experiences daily outages that interrupt her CPAP machine and other essential medical equipment. Her solar system was never installed.
Ileana Rios, a 63-year-old Arecibo resident with diabetes, requires refrigeration for her insulin. After Hurricane Maria, she went approximately nine months without electricity, relying on ice and eventually a generator to preserve her medication. Her approved solar installation was canceled.
Marilyn Santos Kim, a Cayey resident whose son has cerebral palsy and depends on oxygen and other electricity-powered medical devices, received solar panels through the program. But her battery storage system stopped functioning and was not repaired, leaving her family without the promised protection during outages.
“These families were promised reliable electricity to keep essential medical equipment running and their loved ones safe,” said Kunyu Ching, attorney at Lawyers for Good Government. “Congress approved this funding for a reason, and the administration cannot simply abandon that commitment. For thousands of vulnerable Puerto Ricans, this isn't an abstract funding dispute. It's a matter of health and safety, and in some cases, life or death.”
“We know that access to reliable electricity is essential for people to remain safely in their homes and communities and energy insecurity drives displacement. Both the federal and Puerto Rican governments have a responsibility to ensure that disaster survivors can recover with dignity and remain in the places they call home,” Ariadna Godreau Aubert, Founder and Executive Director of Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico. “In this case, the Department of Energy must honor its commitments and ensure that the resources Congress allocated reach the people they were intended to protect. These families were promised energy security, and they deserve nothing less.”
"Canceling the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Program puts at risk the people who depend on it to keep themselves and their loved ones safe," said Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “When outages cut the power, our clients’ lives are literally at risk. We’re standing with them to restore the program and ensure its resources reach the families they were intended to serve.”
The complaint argues that DOE's actions violate federal administrative and appropriations laws, as well as the Constitution's separation of powers. Plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the termination unlawful, reinstate the program, and prevent further interference with its funding.
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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of 125,000 lawyers, law students, and advocates in the fight for justice. We identify where lawyers can make the greatest impact and mobilize them to defend democracy and the rule of law, protect civil and human rights, and advance environmental justice through coordinated legal action and advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for all Americans.
LatinoJustice For over five decades, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has used and challenged laws to create a more just and equitable society. We transform harmful systems, empower our communities, fight for racial justice, and grow the next generation of líderes. To learn more, visit www.LatinoJustice.org
Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing social justice and defending the rights of low-income and historically marginalized communities in Puerto Rico. Through legal education, advocacy, community organizing, and strategic litigation, the organization works to advance housing justice, prevent displacement, and protect the right to a just recovery for disaster survivors.