Governor Jenniffer González-Colón Elected Chair of the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB)
September 21, 2026 – Biloxi, Mississippi – The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) today elected Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón as Chair for the 2026–2027 term during the Board’s Annual Meeting.
SSEB members recognized the progress led by Governor González-Colón in the energy sector during the first 21 months of her administration. Among these efforts are strengthening the Island’s generation fleet through battery energy storage systems, peaker units, and repairs to critical generation units; increasing available generation by more than 1,900 MW, with processes underway to add 3,000 MW of new generation capacity, helping prevent widespread outages caused by insufficient generation; diversifying Puerto Rico’s energy sources, including advancing the conversion of one of the Island’s power plants to natural gas, which could generate more than $94 million in annual savings; and modernizing the energy system to make it more resilient, among other initiatives.
“Transforming Puerto Rico’s energy system into one that is resilient, diverse, and affordable has been a priority of my administration as part of our strategy to improve quality of life, strengthen the Island’s infrastructure, attract investment, and continue advancing economic development. These advances have also been driven by public policy aligned with the priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. I thank the members of the SSEB for electing me to chair the Board, a responsibility I accept with great honor. From this position, we will work to promote reliable and affordable energy across the South’s states and territories, share solutions among jurisdictions, and prepare our energy systems to meet future opportunities,” said Governor González-Colón.
State Representative José Aponte Hernández and attorney Gregorio Igartúa are the other two members representing Puerto Rico on the Southern States Energy Board.
Governor González-Colón succeeds Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, who chaired the Board during the 2025–2026 term and hosted this year’s meeting.
The election took place during the SSEB’s 66th Annual Meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, which brought together governors, legislators, regulators, industry leaders, researchers, and federal partners under the theme, “The South’s Energy Blueprint: Strategic Resources. Shared Advantages.”
During Governor González-Colón’s tenure as Chair, SSEB meetings will be held in Puerto Rico as they are scheduled, including the Board’s 67th Annual Meeting next year.
Later today, Governor González-Colón will participate alongside Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in the Governors’ Energy Panel, moderated by Patrick Sullivan, President of the Mississippi Energy Institute. The panel will focus on energy policy.
Governor González-Colón is the second Puerto Rico governor to serve as Chair of the SSEB, following Governor Pedro J. Rosselló, who held the position from 1995 to 1996.
The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) is a nonprofit interstate organization established through an interstate compact in 1960. Its mission is to promote economic development and improve the quality of life of the states and territories of the South through innovation in energy and environmental policies, programs, and technologies.
The SSEB is composed of 16 Southern states and two territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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