Mexico Inaugurates Second Major Wind-energy Plant

In early March, President Felipe Calderon inaugurated La Rumorosa wind-energy project in Baja California state, prompting the executive to declare that Mexico is becoming the most advanced country in Latin America in harnessing this type of energy. Mexico views a commitment to renewable energy as a necessary component of its campaign to fight global climate change.During March, Mexico also completed financing plans for a supercritical pressure coal-fired power plant under construction in Guerrero state. This technology is designed to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and operation costs. La Rumorosa to supply power to Mexicali in Baja California state La Rumorosa, which will supply the electrical-energy needs of Mexicali, is the country's second major wind-energy project, producing about 10 megawatts of electricity. But this project is significantly smaller than La Ventosa wind-power plant in Oaxaca, which has the capacity to generate a total of 330 MW from two separate plants (see SourceMex, 2009-01-28). The new facility will be located in the Sierra de Juarez between Tijuana and Mexicali, but all the power generated at La Rumorosa will be distributed to the municipality of Mexicali to provide electricity for its street-light system. Mexicali will devote the savings in electrical expenditures to subsidies to help low-income residents pay their power bills. The plant, which has been operational since January, was constructed at a cost of 26 million pesos (US$2.1 million)