FEMA Must Consider Renewable Energy in Puerto Rico, Judge Rules

The Trump administration must consider renewable energy alternatives in rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, a federal judge ruled.

The US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico’s decision hands a win to environmentalists who want the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider installing more solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy in communities hit by climate disasters.

The ruling is a sharp turnabout from a separate decision by the US District Court for the District of Columbia, which dismissed a lawsuit in September that sought the same result.

When considering how to rebuild Puerto Rico’s grid, FEMA only ...