Sessions
Nonprofits Building Solar & Storage
4:05 PM - 4:25 PM Tue
Financing Success: The Potential of Puerto Rico's Green Bank & More
4:25 PM - 4:40 PM Tue
Ramon-Luis Nieves (born in San Juan, 1975) is a former state senator for the District of San Juan, Puerto Rico, former Vice President of a financial institution, and an attorney for almost two decades.
As managing member of RL Legal & Consulting Services (2017-present), Nieves practices law in the state and federal courts of Puerto Rico, as well as before regulatory agencies. As part of his energy law practice, Nieves helped organize the first community microgrid systems in Puerto Rico. He is a frequent commentator on energy issues on the radio, TV, national media, and social media. Currently, Nieves is pursuing an Energy Law LLM at Vermont Law School.
During his tenure in the Senate (2013-2016), Nieves served as Chairman of the Committee on Energy of the Senate of Puerto Rico, and the Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Telecommunications. Nieves championed the first energy reform act (Act No. 57-2014), which created the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (energy regulator), as well as new mandates for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the energy sector. He sponsored Act No. 22-2016, which reformed and/or eliminated energy subsidies and; sponsored Act No. 133-2016 to facilitate net metering and authorize microgrids and community-shared solar. Nieves was also member of the special committee of the Senate to investigate corrupt fuel purchase practices at PREPA. As a consultant for the Senate, Nieves contributed to drafting Act 17-2019, Puerto Rico’s Energy Policy Act.
On November 2, 2017, Nieves testified before the Subcommittee on Energy, Energy & Commerce Committee, U.S. Congress, regarding the effects of Hurricane María, and the energy crisis.