Fermín Fontanés
Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority
Executive Director
Fermín Fontanés currently serves as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Private-Partnerships Authority (P3A). Fontanés is responsible for leading and managing the recently announced public-private partnership (P3) agreement for the transformation of Puerto Rico’s electric power Transmission and Distribution system (T&D). Through his role in P3A, he is in charge of several innovative P3 infrastructure projects including, the advance metering system for the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority, the cruise terminals of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and improvements to the transportation services for the Maritime Transportation Authority.
Mr. Fontanés’ previous private practice concentrated in various areas of federal and local environmental, energy and land use law including corporate transactions, permitting, regulatory compliance and environmental litigation. He holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the George Washington University. His practice also involved counseling energy clients in the acquisition and/or establishment of generating facilities (utility and commercial scale), power purchase agreements, negotiating contracts, day to day operations and permitting matters. Prior to his role in the P3A, he also counseled clients during all development stages of projects, including due diligence reviews, site selections, environmental impact review and permitting.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, Fermín joined the P3A and COR3 as legal counsel. Mr. Fontanés was a partner at O’Neill & Borges LLC. He has also worked at McConnell Váldes LLC, Ogletree Deakins, Dudley Topper & Feuerzeig LLP, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He has been listed as a Foreign Expert for his work in the U.S. Virgin Islands by Chambers and Partners – Global and as Environmental Lawyer by Chambers and Partners – Latin America. He is licensed to practice law in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
He has a Bachelor of Science, Environmental Policy & Resource Behavior from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School.