Spanish Company to Build Wind Farms in Oaxaca & Puebla, Despite Indigenous Opposition Proceso
go to original March 24, 2013

Despite opposition from indigenous residents of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca to the construction of wind farms in their communities, the electric company Iberdrola announced that this year it will invest $910 million in three new projects, two in the state of Oaxaca and one in Puebla.

Residents of San Dionisio del Mar, San Mateo del Mar, Álvaro Obregón and Juchitán have demanded the cancellation of land lease contracts, signed with Preneal-Marena Renovables and Union Fenosa Gas Natural, because they say that they were written under deception, without consulting the people. However, this opposition has not daunted the Spanish company, which plans this year to begin expansion of Ecological Parks or "wind farms" in Mexico, particularly in Oaxaca.

In that state, the capacity of Iberdrola, the leading private electricity producer, amounting to 17% of the total generated in Mexico, will increase from 83 to 103 megawatts, after investing $40 million in one of its projects. It also plans to start the wind farm, Arbolitos II, which will have 70 MW of installed capacity, with an investment of 140 million dollars.

Also, it will begin construction of a wind farm in Puebla, which will have a capacity of 365 megawatts and will have required an investment of $730 million.

Regarding its activity in 2012, Iberdrola explained that it opened La Venta III wind farm in Oaxaca, with a capacity of 103 megawatts and an investment of over $200 million.

The installation program is part of the program of independent power production of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

The engineering and construction subsidiary of Iberdrola began work last year on the co-generation plant at the Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) refinery in the town of Salamanca, Guanajuato, in a project that will represent a total investment of over 450 million dollars.

See Spanish original

Posted by Reed Brundage at Mexico Voices

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