MEXICAN WIND

Mexico turns toward alternative energy
Mark Stevenson, January 22, 2009 (AP)

"Mexico inaugurated one of the world's largest wind farm projects…Mexico is trying to exploit its rich wind and solar potential after relying almost exclusively on petroleum for decades. With oil production down by 9.2 percent in 2008, Mexico now is turning to foreign companies, mainly Spanish, to tap its renewable riches…

"The new, $550 million project is in a region so breezy that the main town is named La Ventosa, or "Windy." It's on the narrow isthmus between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, where winds blow at 15 mph to 22 mph (25 to 36 kph), a near-ideal rate for turbines…"

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"Spanish energy company Acciona Energia says the 6,180-acre (2,500-hectare) farm should generate 250 megawatts of electricity with 167 turbines, 25 of which are already operating. The rest should be on line by the end of the year, making the project the largest of its kind in Latin America…[construction of the project created 850 jobs]…It will produce enough energy to power a city of 500,000 people…

"The project is also a joint venture with Cemex Inc. and will provide 25 percent of the Mexican cement giant's energy needs…Mexico hopes to boost the nation's wind energy capacity, mainly at La Ventosa…Wind energy now accounts for less than 2 percent of electricity production…the government is planning a series of wind projects that by 2012 should generate 2,500 megawatts of electricity…"