Puerto Rico’s Governor Demands Cancellation of Controversial Whitefish Contract

“There Cannot Be Any Distraction”

The governor of Puerto Rico has requested the Governing Board of the Electric Energy Authority (AEE) cancel its controversial $300 million agreement with WhiteFish Energy Holdings to restore power to the beleaguered island.

Last week, the small Montana company was rewarded the contract to restore power to Puerto Rico, igniting controversy. The move was “met with surprise and suspicion,” NPR reported, noting the enormity of the project and the fact that Whitefish “is a two-year-old firm that until recently had just two full-time employees.”

As The Hill reported, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who hails from the same hometown as Whitefish Energy, said he had “absolutely nothing” to do with the company—though that fact raised additional suspicions. 

The small energy company also publicly feuded via Twitter with heroic San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, as Donald Trump frequently has.

Following this, the energy company’s contract with Puerto Rico was leaked, revealing that the government would not be allowed to “audit or review the cost and profit elements under the agreement.”

Now, Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rosselló is calling for an end to the distractions and a renewed focus on restoring Puerto Rico’s power grid.

“There cannot be any distraction that alters the commitment of raising electrical system as soon as possible,” a translated tweet from Rosselló read early Sunday.

Earlier this week, in another nod to Donald Trump, Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski called the scrutiny of the company’s deal a witch hunt.

The majority of Puerto Rico remains powerless. Over 900 Americans have died of “natural causes” since Hurricane Maria struck the island, though the official death toll holds at 51.

To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.

If you find NCRM valuable, would you please consider making a donation to support our independent journalism?