Cinco comunidades de Puerto Rico reconocidas por logros en energía solar

May 27, 2022

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A group of people are standing in front of a sign that says puerto rico.

Washington, D.C. y Orocovis, Puerto Rico — Cinco municipios rurales de la cordillera central de Puerto Rico han logrado el reconocimiento federal por fomentar la adopción local de energía solar.


Estas comunidades (Barranquitas, Ciales, Morovis, Orocovis y Villalba) recibieron la designación Bronce a través de SolSmart, un programa nacional que ayuda a los gobiernos locales a reducir las barreras al crecimiento de la energía solar.


Los cinco municipios son los primeros en Puerto Rico en lograr una designación SolSmart, uniéndose a más de 450 comunidades en 42 estados, el Distrito de Columbia y las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos. Las comunidades celebraron estos logros en un evento en Orocovis el 10 de mayo.


“Estoy orgulloso de que Orocovis y tantos municipios vecinos de la Cordillera Central de Puerto Rico estén apoyando activamente la expansión de la energía solar en nuestras comunidades. Este es un paso más para ayudar a nuestra Isla a lograr un uso 100% de energía limpia para el año 2050”, dijo el alcalde de Orocovis, Jesús Edgardo Colón Berlingeri, quien será el anfitrión de la ceremonia en honor a los municipios.


SolSmart está dirigido por el Consejo Interestatal de Energía Renovable (IREC) y la Asociación Internacional de Gestión de Ciudades/Condados (ICMA), y financiado por la oficina de Tecnologías de Energía Solar del Departamento de Energía de EE. UU. El programa ofrece asistencia técnica gratuita para ayudar a las comunidades a satisfacer sus necesidades energéticas utilizando energía solar y tecnologías relacionadas, como el almacenamiento en baterías.


"Estamos muy emocionados de reconocer a las primeras comunidades de Puerto Rico por sus logros en energía solar", dijo Theresa Perry, directora de programas del IREC. "Estos gobiernos locales están sentando las bases para un futuro energético sostenible que ayudará a reducir las facturas de energía de los residentes y las empresas, al tiempo que mejorará la resiliencia de la comunidad".


El Instituto de Tecnología y Seguridad de la Construcción (IBTS) brindó un amplio apoyo de asistencia técnica para ayudar a estas comunidades a cumplir con los criterios para la designación SolSmart. IBTS brindó orientación personalizada a los municipios; dirigió una sesión de capacitación sobre planificación, permisos e inspección de sistemas solares a gran escala; organizó un taller informativo para la comunidad empresarial y el público en general; y ayudó a las comunidades a promover el programa en las redes sociales.


"La extensión comunitaria es una parte muy importante del programa SolSmart, pero educar a los residentes y las empresas sobre los beneficios de la energía solar en estas cinco comunidades rurales exigió un enfoque único", dijo Karen Jonson, directora de participación en el mercado de IBTS. "Estamos orgullosos de haber colaborado con estos municipios para desarrollar estrategias de extensión personalizadas y efectivas adaptadas a sus necesidades específicas".

“Como organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a fortalecer nuestras comunidades, nos llena de aliento verlos dar pasos tan grandes hacia la construcción de su resiliencia”, dijo Agnes Crespo, directora de la Región IBTS Puerto Rico. "Estamos orgullosos de los logros que han logrado estos municipios", agregó, "y esperamos que sirvan de inspiración para todas las comunidades de la Isla para garantizar que la energía solar sea accesible para todos los residentes".


Las cinco comunidades son miembros del Consorcio Municipal de Energía de la Región Montaña, que está en proceso de desarrollar un sistema de microrred para crear una mayor resiliencia energética. Cada municipio también lanzó una página de Facebook para informar al público sobre las oportunidades locales de energía solar.


El programa SolSmart está abierto a todos los municipios de Puerto Rico. Las comunidades interesadas en unirse al programa y recibir asistencia técnica sin costo pueden contactar a solsmart@irecusa.org.

By Karen Johnson July 22, 2025
Flood risk and insurance costs are growing concerns for many municipalities — but with the right strategies, local governments can make measurable progress in protecting lives, property, and budgets. The City of Central, Louisiana, offers a strong example of how targeted actions can reduce flood risk and deliver financial benefits to residents. Through a sustained partnership with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), Central achieved a Class 5 rating in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), resulting in a 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for all Central residents and businesses. Only two other communities in Louisiana have achieved this rating. In this blog post, Brandon Whitehead, IBTS Floodplain Manager, outlines key actions that contributed to Central’s success, including his top five recommendations for how municipalities can strengthen their own floodplain management programs and improve their CRS ratings. Background: IBTS and City of Central Partnership For more than a decade, IBTS has supported Central’s municipal operations through a nonprofit private partnership (NP3) model, using an integrated and cost-effective team to deliver complete municipal services (excluding police and fire). This long-standing relationship has provided Central with specialized expertise in planning, permitting, ordinance development, and floodplain management , while maintaining consistency across compliance and emergency preparedness efforts. Following significant damage during historic 2016 flooding, Central and IBTS have taken numerous steps to reduce vulnerability, strengthen local policy, and build long-term resilience to flood risks — all of which led to an improved CRS score. The CRS is a voluntary incentive program administered by FEMA that rewards communities for implementing floodplain management practices that exceed minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. The program offers progressively greater flood insurance discounts as communities achieve better classifications, ranging from Class 9 to Class 1. As Brandon explains, “Our most recent improvement from a Class 7 to a Class 5 rating means we’re not only helping property owners save money on premiums, but also actively reducing flood risk across our community. While every community’s path will look different, there are several practical, proven steps that most municipalities can take to strengthen their CRS ratings.” Here are Brandon’s top five strategies municipalities can use to follow Central’s lead and reduce flood risk: 1. Appoint a Qualified Floodplain Manager CRS success starts with strong leadership. Central designated a floodplain coordinator with technical expertise and deep knowledge of FEMA regulations, ordinances, and compliance. Rather than tasking administrative staff with this complex role, cities like Central have brought in specialists — in this case, through IBTS — to guide CRS strategy and implementation. 2. Strengthen Local Ordinances for New Development Central updated its development codes to protect existing properties from increased runoff and flood risk. These updates include: Enhanced drainage requirements for new construction Mandatory assessments to ensure no off-site impact (upstream or downstream) Stricter elevation rules for buildings in flood-prone areas Reduced substantial damage threshold from 50% to 45% of pre-disaster market value, triggering elevation requirements for more structures These changes not only supported CRS goals but also reflected Central Mayor Wade Evans’ push for smarter development and public safety. 3. Use GIS and Modeling Tools to Map Risk With support from engineering partner CSRS, Central developed a hydraulic model to monitor drainage systems and identify high-risk areas. With these tools integrated into the City’s GIS, development applications could be evaluated for impact — enabling more informed planning decisions and protecting legacy neighborhoods. Real-time flood gauges are now being piloted to provide early warnings and improve emergency response. 4. Establish Long-Term Hazard Mitigation Plans Central worked with East Baton Rouge Parish to develop a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan , laying the foundation for infrastructure upgrades, grant funding, and coordinated response. The CRS program awards points for these collaborative efforts, which also contribute to resilience. 5. Limit Use of Enclosures Below Elevated Structures To reduce post-disaster damage and future NFIP claims, Central implemented new limits on enclosed areas under elevated homes (typically used for parking or storage). Homeowners are required to: Keep these enclosures non-residential Sign compliance agreements Undergo annual inspections This practical policy earned CRS credit and helped preserve the intent of elevation requirements. Where to Start Communities don’t need to go at it alone. IBTS partners with municipalities to provide floodplain management services, ordinance development, planning support, and CRS strategy. Whether you’re starting with a Class 9 rating or aiming for Class 1, a structured approach can produce real, measurable benefits for your community. Interested in improving your CRS rating? Contact IBTS to learn how we can support your community’s flood resilience goals.
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By Karen Johnson July 18, 2025
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State map of Louisiana
January 28, 2025
Central, Louisiana, January 27, 2025 —The City of Central has achieved a Class 5 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, enabling homeowners and businesses to receive a 25% reduction in their flood insurance premiums while enhancing community safety and strengthening property protections. The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum requirements. More than 1,500 U.S. communities participate in the CRS program by implementing local mitigation, floodplain management, and educational outreach activities. The City of Central is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and has a population of around 30,000. Since 2011, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) has provided municipal services for the City, including leading efforts to improve its CRS rating. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to prioritize public safety and strengthen flood resilience in our community,” said Central Mayor Wade Evans. “We are committed to preserving lives, safeguarding property, and ensuring a secure future for Central’s residents.” Situated between the Comite and Amite rivers, about 60 percent of Central’s incorporated area is within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); these areas require special NFIP floodplain management regulations and mandatory flood insurance due to their high risk of flooding. In 2016, a catastrophic storm, the fourth most costly flood event in U.S. history at the time, sent multiple rivers to record levels in the state; the Amite exceeded its previous record by more than six feet. Following the flood, the City accelerated its disaster planning and floodplain management efforts, which led to achieving a Class 7 rating in 2020; property owners then received a 15% insurance premium discount due to improved zoning requirements and increased educational programs. Mayor Evans’ commitment to public safety and IBTS’ floodplain expertise continue to drive City planning. Central has undertaken numerous infrastructure projects to counter escalating flood risks, which affect much of Louisiana’s low-lying geography. The City has collaborated with East Baton Rouge Parish on a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, implemented an effective hydraulic model to monitor flood and stormwater, and strengthened City ordinances pertaining to building elevation and new development drainage requirements. Future plans include using real-time forecasting models to better prepare for weather events and developing a multi-jurisdictional assessment of floodplain species and plants.  Achieving a Class 5 rating “is the result of collaborative efforts to implement effective flood mitigation strategies,” said Brandon Whitehead, Central’s CRS Coordinator. “We appreciate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the NFIP for their partnership as we continue working toward a safer and more resilient Central.” The new CRS rating, effective October 1, 2025, will automatically renew annually as long as the City complies with NFIP guidelines and continues its certified floodplain management activities. For more information on the City of Central’s floodplain management activities or the NFIP CRS program, contact Karen Johnson, IBTS Market Engagement Program Director, at kjohnson@ibts.org . ### IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. Our nonprofit mission to serve and strengthen communities is advanced through our services. These include building code services and regulatory expertise; compliance and monitoring; community planning; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; energy solutions; municipal services; grants management; program management and oversight; resilience services; solar quality management; and workforce development and training. IBTS’ work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governors Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC).