Puerto Rico is working to cancel Whitefish contract

Desdemona Despair

By Jackie Wattles and Marilia Brocchetto
29 October 2017

(CNN) – Puerto Rico’s power authority is working to cancel a controversial contract it awarded to a small Montana-based utility company.

Ricardo Ramos, the CEO of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, says he is “asking for a resolution” that would allow for the cancellation of the contract with Whitefish Energy.

The $300 million deal with the two-year-old company has drawn widespread scrutiny. Whitefish, which was tasked with helping to restore power to parts of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, had few employees before Hurricane Maria hit.

Ramos said during a Sunday press conference that the contract is “not canceled as of yet,” adding that it requires 30 days of prior notice. He said he will need to talk to the firm.

“The plan is not to demobilize them either, we will let them finish what they have started,” Ramos said.

The contract with PREPA marked the largest contract to be awarded since recovery efforts began more than a month ago.

Whitefish is also based in the small hometown of U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, which has raised questions. Zinke has said he had nothing to do with the contract. […]

The decision to cancel the deal Sunday came hours after Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló publicly called on PREPA to do so.

He said questions raised around the contract are “interfering with everything” and the distractions are not helping Puerto Rico rebuild. [more]

Puerto Rico is working to cancel Whitefish contract