U.S. denies request for Puerto Rico shipping waiver

[blondebanshee]

“Our dependence on fossil fuel imports by sea is hampering the restoration of services,” said Juan Declet-Barreto, an energy expert at the nonprofit group the Union of Concerned Scientists. The refusal to allow the waiver “is raising fears on the island that they are going to be left behind in this disaster.”


[link:http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-maria-puertorico-shipping/u-s-denies-request-for-puerto-rico-shipping-waiver-idUSKCN1C12UI?il=0|

[Delmette2.0]

1. Now would be the time for renewable energy companies

To make Puerto Rico energy independent. Every new building should be equipped with solar panels and small windmills.

Seriously, why rebuild an infrastructure that can be so easily disrupted.

[FLPanhandle]

3. +1

Same with Florida

[FLPanhandle]

2. The issue is damaged and non-operational ports

The issue isn't enough ships. Reading the article, I agree with decision.

[Delmette2.0]

4. I was thinking about this opening line.

Our dependence on fossil fuel imports by sea is hampering the restoration of services,”

[FLPanhandle]

5. Agree.

Imagine if every home had solar panels. Many would be damaged after the storm, but there would be some power even in remote areas.

Now is a chance to rebuild using solar.

[Kaleva]

8. This is an opportunity to build a green power grid

[procon]

6. That century-old shipping law is ridiculous!

Its an outdated relic from WWI that was intended to enshrine America as a nation of shipbuilders and seamen. The deck is stacked for US shipping businesses to profit off of the disaster in Puerto Rico. Since consumers must import everything, how much of their limited funds are going to be diverted to pay the higher cost of US shipping? Congress could have waived the law and let competition drive down the price... you know, something like that free market capitalism we keep hearing about, instead US citizens are the victims of legal price gouging.

A New York Fed report from 2012 shows that it costs twice as much to ship something from a port in the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico as it does to ship to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic nearby. There are only a handful of Jones Act–compliant options, and that lack of competition allows U.S. shippers to charge much higher prices.

http://reason.com/blog/2017/09/25/hey-congress-if-you-really-want-to-help

[superpatriotman]

7. Who benefits from the Jones Act?

Exactly?