AAA、AEE与CTPR面对Esencia；旅游信贷约$497.7 million

On August 27, 2026, the Senate Committee on Innovation, Reform and Appointments heard AAA, PREPA and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR) in the Esencia inquiry (S.R. 9 and 459). This note anchors that release; hearing opposition ≠ final Senate adjudication.

AAA (Eng. Ann Ventura) reiterated that after evaluating the Infrastructure Recommendation Request (530 hotel units, 1,132 tourism residences, school, golf and retail), the Betances plant lacks capacity for estimated demand of about 1,252,806 gallons per day (ruling Sep 26, 2024). Lajas Urbano also lacks capacity; Mayagüez Urbano would have residual with north-south conveyance upgrades.

PREPA (Atty. Fabiola Rosa Roldán) put Valle de Lajas irrigation at its 23.68 million gpd maximum (agriculture 12.18 MGD; AAA 11.5 MGD by canal plus 7.0 MGD from Lucchetti) and said the system cannot even back up Esencia; she recommended evaluating desalination and a DNER hydrogeology study before wells.

CTPR (Atty. Raúl Márquez) limited its role to Act 74-2010 benefits: eligible investment $1,244,229,092 and estimated credit $497,691,636.80 over six phases, plus a June 2025 conditioned environmental recommendation that does not certify sufficient water. Estimated credit ≠ disbursement; conditioned recommendation ≠ permit. Primary: Senate 27 Aug 2026.

来源：Senado de Puerto Rico. https://senado.pr.gov/aaa-aee-y-turismo-se-oponen-al-proyecto-esencia-en-cabo-rojo-durante-los-trabajos-de-investigacin-del-senado-de-puerto-rico