Jillian
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jillianmelero.bsky.social
Jillian
@jillianmelero.bsky.social
Journalist • Editor • Founder @ Connect Puerto Rico
https://connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/subscribe
2nd gen NuYorican. NJ & FL raised. Chi-based.
1st gen college grad. MSJ '19
Honest. Restless. Difficult.
Pinned
I’m running for At-Large Director on the @spj-posts.bsky.social board, and I’d value your support.

SPJ helped me grow, lead, and serve. I want more journalists to find those opportunities—and more chapters to create them.

Learn more: www.spj.org/election-cen...
I’m running for At-Large Director on the @spj-posts.bsky.social board, and I’d value your support.

SPJ helped me grow, lead, and serve. I want more journalists to find those opportunities—and more chapters to create them.

Learn more: www.spj.org/election-cen...
September 14, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Nearly 9 years after Hurricane Maria, most federal grid-recovery money remains unspent as residents face outages and higher bills. The July issue also tracks PREPA debt and energy hiring.

More than $10B for Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid Sits Unspent
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/p/puerto-ric...
More than $10B for Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid Sits Unspent
Puerto Rico power plant failures trigger rolling outages, electricity rates rise 4.9%, and PREPA bondholders reject a $3 billion settlement offer.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
July 30, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Puerto Rico’s electric rate case raises questions about customer grid costs.

Also: water shortages, DOE solar funds shifted toward PREPA, Energy Workforce Watch, PROMESA at 10, and a Diaspora Dispatch on Puerto Rican Pride.

Read + subscribe:
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/p/puerto-ric...
Puerto Rico Rate Case Spotlights Customer Grid Costs
Separately, water shortages are affecting thousands of residents, and federal solar funds face new scrutiny. Plus: PROMESA at 10 and Puerto Rican Pride across the diaspora.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
June 23, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Jillian
🌟 Our latest "5 Questions with..." features founder @jillianmelero.bsky.social of @connect-puertorico.bsky.social a monthly newsletter covering the policies, infrastructure projects and decisions shaping renewable energy development in Puerto Rico.

www.tinynewsco.org/5-questions-...
5 Questions with Connect Puerto Rico's Jillian Melero
Jillian Melero talks about how a trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria led her to launch Connect Puerto Rico, a newsletter about energy and the environment on the island.
www.tinynewsco.org
May 19, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Puerto Rico’s electric bills are likely headed up again. In an archipelago where most fuel is imported, and many households have less room to absorb another increase, that matters.

— Breaking down reporting from @canarymedia.com and more.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/p/middle-eas...
Middle East Oil Shock Threatens Higher Electric Bills in Puerto Rico
A Jones Act waiver offers limited relief, a $1.2 billion contract deepens fossil fuel lock-in, and federal cuts kill community solar.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
March 24, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Our November issue is live!

This month:
– Canary Media on FEMA pulling back rooftop-solar funding
– IEEFA on Puerto Rico contracting more centralized power than needed
– New reporting on New Fortress Energy’s financial problems and what that means for Genera

Read the issue:
buff.ly/uMJoQNt
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Jillian
August: Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board (mostly) dismissed.

September: lawsuit filed, PREPA debt deal collapses, grid recovery still stalled, municipal climate lawsuit dismissed, and the climate change committee left powerless.

Read the September issue: buff.ly/jMFHAbK
Puerto Rico Fiscal Board Dismissal Triggers Legal, Financial Fallout
Plus: PREPA’s collapsed debt deal, LUMA’s stalled grid recovery, municipalities’ climate lawsuit dismissed, and Puerto Rico’s climate committee left powerless.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Reposted by Jillian
Puerto Rico’s overlapping challenges are colliding:

⚡ Trump WH dismissed most of the fiscal board
📑 A $20B LNG project stalled
🏠 Residents are suing LUMA over blackout damages
🚱 Water shortages forced a state of emergency
🌧️ Hurricane Erin added flooding to the mix

Read more
buff.ly/8yMUaaV
August 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Puerto Rico’s clean energy timeline just got tighter, pulling federal support when most needed.

Plus:
📍 DHS shows up at a Puerto Rican museum in Chicago
🔌 PREB investigates backup power failures
🧭 Diaspora Dispatch — your stories, your hometowns

📬 Subscribe to take our survey:
buff.ly/5CL05Mv
July 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Connect Puerto Rico subscribers — we want your take.

We’re running a quick survey (under 5 min) to learn what you need, what’s missing, and how we can build a stronger platform for information, connection, and action.

Survey link (subscribers only):
What Do You Need From Connect Puerto Rico?
Your input will shape how this newsletter evolves — and how it supports your work, priorities, and community.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
July 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Jillian
NEWS NIGHT -- June 5 @ 7 pm.
June 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Reposted by Jillian
Puerto Rico’s solar rollout is stalled.
FEMA isn’t ready for storm season.
Frontline communities are still waiting.

This issue covers:

🔹 Solar delays
🔹 A leaked FEMA memo
🔹 A dropped climate case
🔹 A federal emergency order

Read and share → connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/p/puerto-ric...
May 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I’m joining News Night this Thursday — a casual event where local reporters share what they’re working on. No panels. Just real talk.

I’ll talk about @connect-puertorico.bsky.social, the newsletter I founded on how U.S. policy, business, and science shape Puerto Rico’s energy — and why it matters.
May 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Jillian
In our April issue:

⚡ Blackout fallout from a major transmission failure
🏥 Hospitals call for faster resilience funding ahead of hurricane season
🌍 Loss of $3M in climate funds after FEMA cancels BRIC
🔋 New bill sets renewable energy targets

👉 connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com/p/blackout-p...
Puerto Rico’s Blackouts Demand Immediate Energy Action
After the second island-wide blackout in four months, Puerto Rico faces energy resilience gaps, with delayed projects and funding cuts weakening the power grid.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Jillian
In our latest issue:

• A Puerto Rican pro-independence group is lobbying Trump officials.

• Homeland Security chief visits after immigration raids rattle communities.

• The First U.S.-sourced LNG shipment to Puerto Rico is on the way.

Read, share:
Independence or Austerity? The Push to Cut Puerto Rico Loose
Independence, immigration enforcement, and fossil fuel investments collide in Puerto Rico.
connect-puerto-rico.beehiiv.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Jillian
It’s #SunshineWeek, and my contribution is a thread of must-know public records tools and resources for #FOIAFest! Whether you’re new to FOIA or just looking to sharpen your skills, these tips will help you get the records you need. Let’s dig in… 🧵1/9
March 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Journalism should do more than just report the news — it should help people make sense of it.

Had a great conversation about why I started @connect-puertorico.bsky.social and how journalism can bridge the gap between policy, investment, and community needs.
March 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Jillian
In the February issue of Connect Puerto Rico:

💰 PREPA’s $9B debt battle — who pays, and what’s next?
🏭 Gov. González pushes to extend coal — critics warn of health & climate risks.
🔌 Luma’s plan for 9 grid interconnections — will it stabilize the system?

📢 Subscribe & share! →
Funding Cuts, Debt, and the Fight for Renewables
A federal funding freeze, a $9B debt crisis, and political moves to extend coal use — what’s next for Puerto Rico’s energy development?
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Taking applications for news revolutionaries ✨
must love:

• community power
• information equity
• collaborative vibes
• actual change

Find your people: www.newsfutures.org
#NewsFutures
News Futures
Since 2018, News Futures has been a collective of people, ideas, and spaces focused on building a participatory and networked future for local news. As we evolve, we invite you to join us in shaping t...
www.newsfutures.org
February 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
🎟️ Tickets for FOIA Fest 2025 are now on sale!

🗓️ Join the Chicago Headline Club on March 22 at Medill’s downtown newsroom for a day of workshops, networking, and FOIA expertise.

✨ Programming details coming soon!

headlineclub.org/2025/01/22/f...

#FOIAFest2025 #Transparency #Journalism
FOIA Fest 2025 tickets now on sale - Chicago Headline Club
Accountability reporting is a critical function of journalism — particularly as Chicago governmental bodies are less cooperative and as the Trump Administration, which has proven to be hostile towards...
headlineclub.org
January 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
🎄🕎 Holiday downtime? Not quite.

The latest Connect Puerto Rico is here with updates on funding, accountability, and community planning.

💡Recharge with a read that sparks ideas for the year ahead.
🎁 The December issue of Connect Puerto Rico is unwrapping:

🔋 $365M in federal funding for solar & battery projects
⚡ LUMA Energy’s Smart Meter Rollout
⚖️ New Fortress Energy Under Scrutiny
🌄 Castaner’s Resilience Plan
👩🏼‍🏫 New Energy Education Partnership

https://buff.ly/3ZJ4Rta
December 25, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Jillian
⚡ Have you seen Connect Puerto Rico’s website?

It’s your one-stop hub for staying up to date on Puerto Rico’s renewable energy transition. 🌱

🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter.
👥 Meet the team driving our mission.
💡 Get involved and be part of the change.

✨ Explore now → https://buff.ly/3BmzYTv
Connect Puerto Rico
Stay informed with Connect Puerto Rico, a monthly newsletter delivering curated insights on U.S. policy, business, and technology shaping Puerto Rico's renewable energy future. Join our community to…
buff.ly
December 17, 2024 at 8:15 PM

This #GivingTuesday, I’m supporting Connect Puerto Rico, a project I founded to drive renewable energy progress. We're building journalism that connects leaders and communities to solutions. Donations are tax-deductible—join me: buff.ly/3Z6sawQ

#RenewableEnergy #PuertoRico
This #GivingTuesday, support Connect Puerto Rico!
Your donation or in-kind contribution helps us build networks, amplify voices, and drive renewable energy solutions.

💡 Donate: https://buff.ly/3Z6sawQ
🤝 For in-kind contributions, email: [email protected] w/ the subj: In-Kind
December 3, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Jillian
A big thank you to all our Connect Puerto Rico readers! 💚

Your support keeps us going as we dive into Puerto Rico’s energy transformation.
Subscribe for the latest on renewable energy and what’s next for Puerto Rico.

🔗 Subscribe: https://buff.ly/3COKWS2
🎁Donate: https://buff.ly/3Z6sawQ
November 28, 2024 at 9:30 PM