Mexico's Jalisco state launches energy agency

Mexico's western state of Jalisco has launched its own energy agency, aimed at promoting efficiency, security and sustainability in the sector.

The agency was launched by the innovation, science and technology department (Sicyt) in collaboration with the economic development (Sedeco) and environment (Semadet) departments, Sicyt announced. It will focus on the development of renewable energy, particularly solar, wind and geothermal power.

"As the fourth largest energy-consuming state in the country, our renewable energy generation is very small, and we need to make up for lost time and we can do so with technological development," Sicyt head Jaime Reyes Robles said, according to the state government.

He added that Jalisco currently has 30 projects identified that represent US$1bn in investment to 2025.

Sedeco head José Palacios said Jalisco is developing renewable energy projects such as the 23-turbine Ojuelos wind farm.

Chinese firm JinkoSolar was awarded two projects in Mexico's March 30 electric power auction, one of which is the 100MW Viborillas solar park in Jalisco. The other is the 70MW Cuncunul project in Yucatán.

State utility CFE last year was awarded a concession by the energy ministry to develop a geothermal plant at Cerritos Colorados in Jalisco that has potential generation capacity of 75MW, one of 13 permits the utility was awarded for geothermal exploration in seven Mexican states amounting to potential capacity of 448MW, and which include the Planillas project, also in Jalisco.

However, a local scientist and academic warned in June that La Primavera forest, near Jalisco state capital Guadalajara (pictured), is at risk of suffering environmental damage if the Cerritos Colorados project is developed. The forest is a Unesco-protected area due to its biodiversity.