Mexico developer in US$200mn wind expansion

Mexican firm Grupo Dragón will invest US$200mn in a second phase of development of its Los Altos I wind farm in the western state of Jalisco, according to the local government.

The first wind farm in the state, 50MW Los Altos I (pictured) opened in 2014 following a 1.8bn-peso investment (US$109mn) and is designed to produce around 130GWh/y.

It is the first wind farm in the Americas built at an elevation of more than 2,600m above sea level, according to information on the website of conglomerate Grupo Salinas, the parent company of Grupo Dragón.

Los Altos I operates under a self-supply model, supplying electricity to Grupo Salinas, whose businesses include TV Azteca, Banco Azteca, retail chain Grupo Elektra and Italika motorcycles. It also provides power to the state government and to municipalities.

Jalisco state government, in a news article on its website, reported Grupo Dragón commercial director Roberto Mollinedo Medellín as saying that construction of phase two of Los Altos would create 300 jobs. Mollinedo did not disclose details of what second phase work would involve.

State governor Aristóteles Sandoval said Jalisco would announce further investment in the energy sector in the coming weeks.