Whitefish resumes repair work in Puerto Rico after being paid

Whitefish Energy said Thursday it resumed repairs to Puerto Rico’s electric grid after receiving payment from the territory’s state-owned utility.

The energy company on Monday stopped its efforts restoring the power grid on the island because it said it was owed more than $83 million.

The Puerto Rican utility released a payment to Whitefish on Wednesday “that was enough to show PREPA’s good faith intent to pay Whitefish Energy and its subcontractors for services rendered,” the company said in a statement.

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The company’s CEO said previously it had sent more than 500 contractors and subcontractors on its work to restore the island’s power grid following Hurricane Maria.

Whitefish Energy, a tiny Montana company, received blowback after it was awarded a $300 million contract to help restore power in Puerto Rico.

The island canceled the contract with Whitefish Energy on Oct. 29 over the controversy surrounding the deal.

When Maria hit the island, the energy company had only two full-time employees, and critics argued it wasn’t properly staffed to handle such a large crisis.

The contract also came under fire because it contained provisions barring the government from reviewing labor costs or profits related to the company’s work in Puerto Rico.

The FBI announced at the end of October that it was investigating the contract and how Whitefish and PREPA came to the agreement.

The small energy company is located in the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, but Zinke said he “had absolutely nothing to do” with the company receiving the contract.