Category Archives: baja sur

Mexico Goes Solar In Baja California Sur

The greening of Mexico….

Mexico state utility’s first solar plant set to start operations

Mexico City, February 22, 2012 — Mexican state power company Comisión Federal de Electricidad’s 1 MW Santa Rosalía photovoltaic pilot project in Baja California Sur state will soon begin operations, according to the utility.

The solar power plant will be CFE’s first in the country, and sits on land beside the road to the company’s Las Tres Vírgenes geothermal plant. Microm, a unit of Grupo Condumex, constructed the plant.

Baja California Sur’s Mulegé municipality said in a statement last year that the project would require $6.13 million investment.

Mexico currently has roughly 25 MW solar capacity and CFE last year selected Spanish firm Abengoa Solar to develop the 14 MW concentrated solar component of the Agua Prieta II thermoelectric-solar hybrid pilot project in Sonora state.

CFE also recently awarded Spanish group Iberdrola the contract to build the 5MW Cerro Prieto PV pilot project in Baja California state, beside CFE’s Cerro Prieto geothermal plant.

La Paz Carnaval Photos Posted On Facebook

Yesterday was the first parade in La Paz, Baja Sur for the carnaval season. They have three parades that travel the malecon (boardwalk) alternating directions each day, i.e. yesterday it started at the north end and went south. Today it will start at the south end and go north. You get it right?

I didn’t make it to take photos but others did and posted them on Facebook. You can view all 264 photos (some are very good!) at the link below:

La Paz Carnaval Parade Photos

Two Interesting Links For Info On Baja Sur Tourism

I just became aware of two official links for Baja California Sur tourism:

Baja California Sur Toursim

Visit Baja Sur (Facebook Page)

Both are worth the time to check out! The Facebook page seems to be more actively maintained.

Mexico Sets Tourism Record In 2011

According to government figures released recently, 22.7 million foreign visitors flew into Mexico in 2011. The LA Times says that’s a record. AFP says more visitors arrived in 2008. Quien sabe what the truth is. Either way that’s a lot of foreign visitors and according to AFP, they spent $158 US per day on average.

With any sort of luck, the trend will continue and Mexico will finally recover from the brutal beating it has taken at the hands of swine flu, economic crisis and the drug cartels. It’s worth noting that the latest US State Dept’s travel warning about Mexico did not name any locations in Baja Sur. As those of us who live here already know, it’s safe to visit La Paz, Los Cabos and Todos Santos.

From LA Times: Mexico Sets Tourism Record

From AFP: Foreign Tourists Shrug Off Mexico Drug Violence

Reduced Import Tariffs Announced For Mexico

Everyone should be happy with this news.

Mexican President Calderón was in the Todos Santos area last week to film an opening announcement about the new upgraded highway to Los Cabos. The highway isn’t finished yet but great progress has been made and most of the road (not bridges) should be usable in just a few more months. The project is massive and it’s no wonder it is taking some time to complete. It’s worth the wait – the drive to Cabo will be so much safer, faster and easier with the completed 4 lane upgrades.

Calderón also visited Tijuana where he announced reductions to import tariffs for all of Mexico. These changes could greatly reduce the cost of imported clothing, electronics and alcohol. The following is quote from the La Paz Gringos newsgroup.

Clothing, television screens, appliances, alcohol and 200 other goods will no longer be levied an import tax in Baja California Sur, after the declaration of a Border Economic Zone covering the entire peninsula. On Friday, President Calderon and his economy minister, Antonio Meade signed in Tijuana a decree for the competitiveness and tariff reduction.

With this decree, coupled with the recent release from import duty of 204 other items, products that come not only from America but from Asia may be had at more competitive prices for local merchants. Canned fish, articles for health care, clothing, footwear, big screens, wines and spirits, among others, are products whose tariffs will be reduced and also allow labeling at point of sale and not in the area input allowing further lower marketing costs.
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What Will It Mean If The PRI Retakes The Mexican Presidency?

The Mexican presidency is up for grabs in 2012. After being out of power for 12 years, the PRI have an excellent chance to regain the nation’s highest office and this is important since Mexico has a very strong, centralized federal government that can change a lot of things even at the state level.

The Financial Times has a recent blog entry by Jorge Zepeda Patterson that attempts to explain all the ins and outs of the upcoming election and its possible results and implications.

Mexico: The Return of the PRI and What It Might Mean