NewsTaco

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) has sent the Superintendence of the Environment—the country’s environmental regulatory body—several claims regarding Hidroaysén’s alleged breach of its environmental permit. The claims are backed by a SEA-commissioned report, issued in March of this year, that outlines several irregularities pertaining to the drafting of the project’s Relocation Plan, a document that was to be negotiated and agreed to between the developers of the mega-damn project and the families that would be directly affected by the flooding of their properties. (Diario el Divisadero 4/17/2013)

Barrick Gold—the Toronto-based mining company whose Pascua Lama gold and silver mining project was suspended last week amid charges of environmental irregularities—has asked the Copiapó Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision. In the official request, the company claims that the Chilean Superintendence of the Environment, and not the appeals court, has the sole authority to suspend projects for regulatory incompliance—an action that the regulatory body has considered on at least two occasions and deemed not necessary. (Diario Financiero 4/18/2013)

Enel Green Power—a subsidiary of the Italian energy company Enel—has been awarded exclusive rights to develop and operate a 130 MW wind farm, called Sierra Gorda Este, in Chile’s Antofagasta region. The project will add to the 6.4 GW of already installed power generation capacity that the company operates in the country and contribute to the broader target of operationalizing 11.3 GW of renewable capacity by 2020. (AméricaEconomía 4/16/2013)

Chile’s salmon industry has once again been hit by the Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISA), which was detected in a fish farm cage containing 0.12 percent Atlantic salmon stock of major producer Multiexport Foods. Although the virus poses no known risks to human, many major supermarkets have removed Chilean salmon from their shelves. ISA led to a 65 percent decline in salmon stock in 2007, devastating an industry that once supplied 30% of the world’s salmon and trout. (The Santiago Times 4/12/2013)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica lacks adequate legislation to protect its 970 square kilometers of coral reefs, claims a coalition of several public and civil society groups that has mounted an effort to fill the regulatory gap. The groups, which are preparing a decree to regulate fishing, tourism, and other activities, indicate that as much as 97% of the country’s coral reefs are already showing signs of severe damage. The reefs generate approximately $582 million in ecosystems services annually, principally by serving as the birthplace for several high-value fish species, providing natural storm surge protection, and creating tourism revenue. (La Nación 4/16/2013)

Seven Canadian organizations are pressing Infinito Gold to withdraw its April 4 threat to sue Costa Rica for US$1 billion for suspending the construction of the Crucitas gold mine. In a letter sent to the company’s CEO, the organizations call on Infinito Gold to “drop all legal actions against Costa Rica and its citizens and to leave the country.” The Calgary-based company has claimed that the suspension—which was announced following a 2010 nation-wide ban on open-pit mining—breaches a trade agreement between the two countries. (Inside Costa Rica 4/17/2013)

The Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court has agreed to review a zoning plan put forth by the Puerto Jiménez municipality that paves the way for the construction of a large 107-slip marina at the Crocodile Bay Resort in the Golfo Dulce. The marina is part of a larger development project that environmental groups have challenged for years on the grounds that it threatens local wetland and marine ecosystems. (The Tico Time 4/17/2013)

Mexico

Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, isdeveloping a new program to encourage the development of solar energy projects in the country. The program will elaborate guidelines for the licensing of solar projects and establish “Electric Power Auctions” for small producers (those generating less than 30 MW). At the close of 2012, Mexico—estimated to have the third largest solar potential in the world–registered 1,640 small-scale generation contracts, representing 61,486 KW of capacity. (El Economista 4/17/2013)

Experts in Mexico are drafting 12 public policy proposals to combat the country’s chronically poor air quality. Proposed measures include updating Mexico’s air quality and clean fuel standards, creating incentives to renew the domestic vehicle fleet, and engaging in greater public discourse. Air pollution is estimated to have cost Mexico over 520 billion pesos (approximately US$42 billion) in 2009, approximately 4.4% of the country’s total GDP. (El Occidental 4/18/2013)

Mexico’s plans to expand domestic shale gas exploration may be stymied by water shortages, noted Miriam Grunstein, a professor at the Centre for Research and Teaching in Economics in a recent interview with IPS. Water is a key ingredient in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking—the primary method to extract natural gas from shale rock formations. The country experienced a prolonged drought in 2012, which threatened the agriculture and livestock sectors and deteriorated living conditions in dozens of rural villages. (IPS 4/18/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photo by ClifB]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

The Italian energy company Enel—which has a 51% stake in the beleaguered HidroAysén mega dam project through its subsidiary Endesa—will only  remain committed to the 2,750 MW venture as long as it has the support of both local and national governments. In a conversation with the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, Fulvio Conti, the company’s CEO, stated that while Enel is looking to grow its investments in Latin America, without government direction and support for HidroAysén, the company will choose to move its capital elsewhere. Meanwhile, the project has publicly clashed with several mayors in the Aysén region over the last couple of weeks, demonstrating the increasingly strained relationship that its owners, Endesa and Colbún, maintain with the local communities. (Diario Financiero 4/9/2013; Dow Jones Business News 4/8/2013; El Ciudadano 4/10/2013)

“Geothermal energy is a renewable, local, and clean energy source that can be exploited from the country’s north to its south”, stated Diego Morata, director of the Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA) during a seminar co-hosted by CEGA and NRDC last week. The event sought to tease out the barriers to geothermal development in Chile, a country with abundant stores of the resource but zero installed capacity. (Piensa en Geotermia 4/10/2013)

The use of non-conventional renewable energy in Chile grew by 23% over the last year, reaching 5% of total energy generation in 2012. Biomass constituted the largest portion—50%—of NCRE capacity in the country, followed by hydro (35%), wind (12%) and solar (.02%). By law, all energy supply contracts signed after August 2010 must include a 5% renewable energy target. The target is set to increase 0.5% per year until reaching 10% in 2024. Congress is currently debating new legislation to raise the target to 15% or 20% by 2020. (Tendencias 8/4/2013)

Saferay, a German solar energy developer, has applied for an environmental permit to build a 135 MW photovoltaic plant in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The Carrera Pinto plant will have about 561,000 solar panels and add approximately 240 GWh of electricity per year to the country’s central electricity grid, the SIC. Work on the plant is expected to begin in September. (Bloomberg 4/8/2013)

Barrick Gold Corporation—a Toronto-based mining company—has suspended construction work at its Pascua Lama mine after an appeals court in the northern city of Copiapó charged the company with “environmental irregularities” pertaining to the gold and silver mining project. Indigenous communities in the area have accused Barrick of contaminating their water supply and polluting nearby glaciers. The company is awaiting the completion of three reports commissioned by the Superintendence of the Environment, the region’s Health Service and the national Environmental Evaluation Service before determining next steps, which may include completion of another environmental evaluation and payment of compensation. (New York Times 4/10/2013; Diario Financiero 4/11/2013)

Costa Rica

The Blue Flag Ecological Program—created in 1995 to distinguish beaches that met strict water quality, hygiene, and sanitation standards—awarded the first “sustainable homes” prize to 19 Costa Rican households. The category, which was created in 2012, seeks to recognize actions that encourage water and energy efficiency, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and promote reforestation. A Blue Flag was also awarded to Isla del Coco, a first for the island, for its efforts to improve waste management. (La Nación 4/11/2013)

Industrias Infinito, a subsidiary of the Canadian mining company Infinito Gold, hasaccused the Costa Rican government of breaching a trade agreement between the two countries when it suspended a gold mining concession in Crucitas de San Carlos. The two sides have six months to settle the dispute, after which the case will go to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. The conflict arises from a 2010 Decree establishing Costa Rica’s as a country free of open pit mining. (El Financiero 4/4/2013)

Mexico

In a petition submitted to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation—an international body created under NAFTA to promote collaboration between member states on environmental issues—eleven conservation groups (including NRDC) areasking for an investigation into government approval of the construction of four “mega resorts” in the Gulf of California. The petitioners are asserting the government ignored its own environmental laws and failed to protect sensitive marine and coastal ecosystems when approving the projects. (eNews Park Forest 4/11/2013)

Mexico’s House of Deputies has approved a 15-year energy strategy for the country, an initiative introduced by President Peña Nieto that passed the Senate last month. The strategy calls for modernization of Mexico’s transportation, energy storage and distribution infrastructure, strengthening of its petroleum refining capacity, and that advancement of clean and secure energy sources. (Yahoo! Noticias 4/9/2013)

Federal deputies met with representatives of the Mexican Association of Wind Energy on Monday to discuss potential actions to spur the development wind energy projects in the country. Among the various proposals, the deputies are backing the creation of the Mexican Institute for Renewable Energy, which is expected to help attract private investment to the sector. Mexico’s wind energy potential is estimated to be 12,000 MW. (Reve 4/8/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photo by antitezo]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Thousands of dead shrimp and small fish have emerged from a duct of the Bocamina II plant, an Endesa-owned thermoelectric power generation plant located near Coronel in southern Chile. This incident comes just days after a mass die-off of shrimp, crabs, and other marine life was discovered along a beach in the same area. Several fisherman and international environmentalists have blamed pollution from local power plants for the incidents. Endesa and Colbún, two of the country’s electricity generators and owners of three area power plants, have countered these claims, stating that the die-off likely had natural causes. The Environmental Crime Investigation Unit expects to release a full report on the incident within a month. (BioBioChile 3/26/2013; The Santiago Times 3/22/2013) 

Chile’s National Forest Corporation (Conaf) is pursuing strategies to protect Darwin’s fox—a critically endangered fox species found in Nahuelbuta National Park and Chiloé Island. Facing threats such as habitat loss and diseases transmitted by area dogs, the fox population has dwindled to approximately 500 animals. Aiming to address these issues, Conaf has initiated a vaccination campaign for local canines and installed 15 cameras to help scientists investigate the state of the current fox population and its habitat. (La Tercera 3/24/2013)

Persistent air pollution in Chillán and Chillán Viejo has earned the municipalities a “saturated zone” declaration, a label given to areas that exceed ambient standards for air pollutants such as particulates, ozone, and carbon monoxide. The designation will allow the cities to develop a formal Decontamination Plan, focusing on areas such as transportation, firewood use, building energy efficiency and industrial emissions. (Nación 3/25/2013)

Costa Rica

Residents of Puerto Jimenez, Golfito have filed an appeal in Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court against the region’s regulatory plan, which paved the way for the approval of a new marina development in the Golfo Dulce. The plan is being challenged on the grounds that it was never fully publicized, lacks a technical analysis of the area’s biodiversity, and was elaborated and paid for by a private company that would personally benefit from new development projects. (El País 3/28/2013)

Costa Rica’s CRUSA Foundation has granted over 1.4 million dollars to help protect the country’s vulnerable watersheds. The grant will help finance seven projects, including a “water fund”, which aims to create an investment portfolio for water and watershed-related projects. Other initiatives include the strengthening of 60 rural aqueducts in Costa Rica’s northern and central regions and integrated management of the Purires River micro-watershed in Cartago. (El Financiero 3/22/2013)

Costa Rica will aim to become carbon-neutral by 2021, claimed René Castro, the country’s Minister of Energy and the Environment during a recent trip to China. Castro indicated that part of his trip was geared toward learning about China’s strategy to increase production while decreasing its energy consumption. Costa Rica, which is currently projected to increase its energy consumption by 7% by 2016, will need to invest at least 1% of GDP to help neutralize emissions. (El Financiero 3/26/2013)

Mexico

Helping to mark World Water Day, the Mexican government has declared water to be an issue of national priority and security, paving the way for the elaboration of new and improved policies to govern water use. The government will seek to guarantee supply, reduce waste, and prohibit the drilling of wells without prior authorization from the National Water Commission. Currently, 35 million Mexicans live without adequate water access. (AméricaEconomía 3/23/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photo by Wonderlane]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

HidroAysén, the company intending to build a 2,750 megawatt dam project on two rivers in Patagonia, announced that it would not present the environmental impact study for its transmission line until the end of 2014, in the most optimistic of scenarios. The company has not shown clarity about how it would move forward since parent company Colbún announced in May 2012 that it recommended halting work on the project. Among the reasons given for the delayed timeline, HidroAysén cited the need to re-evaluate the baselines and other technical studies needed for the transmission line’s environmental impact assessment. At the same time, Chile’s government announced that the Committee of Ministers, which is supposed to rule on the 58 appeals filed against HidroAysén’s dams’ approval, will likely not make a decision this year. Filed in the middle of 2011 and originally set for 2012, the appeals case is viewed as too politically unpopular for the government to take a stance. (Economía y Negocios 3/19/2013, 3/21/2013)

The first stone was laid in the Pampa Elvira Solar project in Antofagasta, a $26 million investment by the Chilean-Danish consortium Energía Llaima-Sunmark. The complex will produce 51,800 MWht annually, allowing the Gaby Mine to replace 85 percent of its diesel fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 tons of CO2 each year. Officials expect Pampa Elvira Solar to be operational during the second semester of 2013. (La Segunda 3/15/2013)

Executive Director of the Chilean Renewable Energy Association (ACERA), Carlos Finat, spoke to the Energy and Mining Commission in the Chamber of Deputies of ACERA’s support for the proposed “20-20 law”, which would mandate that 20 percent of Chile’s energy generation come from renewable sources b 2020. He argued against the executive branch’s recent statements that the law would be too difficult to achieve, saying it is both technically feasible and economically beneficial. He further said that the “20 by 2020” goal would allow renewables to compete in upcoming distribution tenders. (Cámara de Diputados de Chile 3/21/2013)

Community members in Puchuncaví and La Greda fear that the opening of the new coal-fired power plant in AES Gener’s Ventanas will create even higher levels of industrial pollution in the already-saturated area. The addition of the new 270 MW plant will make AES Gener’s Ventanas complex the largest coal power plant in Chile, at 885 MW. (El Mercurio de Valparaiso via Terram.cl 3/20/2013)

High energy costs and low water levels are pushing Chilean winemakers to invest in innovative ways to run their wineries. The Morandé winery has installed solar panels at its Añade vineyard, and is assessing the feasibility of using solar energy at other vineyards, too. The De Martino winery says it has already achieved savings by using energy more efficiently, and is looking to optimize insulation and natural light uses. The Montes winery also reports considerable savings after employing various energy efficiency strategies. (Diario Financiero 3/15/2013)

Mexico

The city of Cancun will be host to the 2013 Solar World Congress during November 3-17th this year, making it the first time the congress will be held in a Latin American nation. The 50 year-old Congress will be attended by over 110 countries and organizations, such as the International Agency of Energy and the International Agency of Renewable Energy. At this year’s event, the congress will encourage energy reforms among member countries, pushing governments to make the transition to renewable energies as soon as possible. (Tiempo en Linea 3/20/13)

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA), the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) as well as international experts have contacted President Enrique Peña Nieto about the already high and growing mortality rate of sea turtles off the coast of Baja California Sur. According to CEMDA, more than 2,000 turtles died in 2012 – a 600 percent increase from the mortality rates in the past few years – placing it among the highest turtle mortality rates in the world. Many of these deaths can be associated with high levels of accidental kills associated with small-scale fishing in the Gulf of Ulloa. (Hispanically Speaking New 3/13/13)

At the Fourth High Level Dialogue between Mexico and the European Union (EU), Marie-Anne Coninsx, the head of the EU’s delegation, recognized President Peña Nieto for the country’s new environmental policies. Among the advances highlighted in the meeting was Mexico’s recent adoption of the Climate Change Law. At the meeting, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources also announced a new forest program which would plant 180 million trees to increase the awareness among Mexicans of the need to manage forest resources sustainably and rationally. (El Economista 3/19/13).

Regional

Mountainous communities in the Andes have been experiencing climate change’s impacts on glaciers first hand, as melting glaciers are increasingly causing dramatic flooding events that can threaten communities. The Risk Management Office in the Peruvian municipality of Huaraz recently warned that water levels in the glacial Palcacocha Lake are again at record highs, indicating that the lake’s walls –formed by loose rocks and debris—could rupture and cause a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). If it were to happen, the equivalent of 240,000 Olympic swimming pools (approximately 17 million cubic meters of water) would rush down the valley and to the city of Huaraz, home to over 110,000 people. The threat of the GLOF has citizens calling on the government to take preemptive action. (E&E News, Climatewire 3/14/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photos: Mexican Sea Turtle by Quiltsalad; Palcacocha Lake courtesy University of Oregon; Puchuncavi La Greda Chile courtesy Prensa.cl]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

The Chilean Solar Energy Research Center—a newly formed organization comprising researchers from several of the country’s universities—will begin a multidisciplinary study of the solar energy potential in the Norte Grande. The project will identify key barriers to the development of cost-effective and sustainable solar energy technology, helping to build a scientific evidence base on the topic, inform the public and policymakers, and promote technology transfer programs. (Diario Financiero 3/13/2013; Universidad de Antofagasta 3/13/2013)

Drinking water delivered to several northern cities has exceeded the allowed toxin content limit for the past ten months, according to monthly water quality reports published by the Chilean Superintendence of Sanitation Services. The water, which was found to have elevated levels of sulfates, nitrates, and arsenic, supplies more than 500 thousand people in Copiapó, Caldera, Tierra Amarilla, Chañaral, Alto Hospicio and Arica, among other towns and cities. (Cooperativa 3/11/2013)

Environmental groups in Chile sent a letter to Congress on March 14 –International Day against Large Dams—calling on members of both houses to reject two major energy bills that are currently being debated. The advocates argue that both bills, one proposing a government-built transmission line and one proposing to fast-track electricity concessions, are designed to benefit the HidroAysén mega-dam proposal and other similar projects. (Terram 3/15/2013)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s National Bank is planning to offset its 2011-2012 carbon footprint by purchasing $90,000 of carbon credits from small national farmers and ranchers. The compensation received by each producer will equal the CO2 emissions offset through green operational practices such as biodigester technology, use of hedgerows, and greater water efficiency. The 10-month initiative is aiming to benefit 300 small producers. (El Financiero 3/14/2013)

Zoo Ave, a Costa Rican animal rescue center, has reported the first birth in captivity of the King Vulture—an endangered species of the New World family of vultures that inhabits tropical lowland forests between Mexico and northern Argentina. This marks the first captive birth of the bird in Latin America and one of the few reported worldwide. (La Nación 3/13/2013)

Mexico

Gray whales have found a mating refuge off of the coast of Baja California Sur, where ongoing preservation programs are attempting to help increase the population of these endangered cetaceans. The efforts appear to be working—researchers have identified 1,321 whales in the area this calving season (729 adults and 592 calves), up from just 62 adults in 2009 and 20 in 2010. (El País 3/11/2013)

An aquatic robot will begin to measure the effects of climate change on Mexican reefs, reports the Center for Research and Advanced Studies. The robot, named Mexibot, will be deployed off of the Costa Maya and will capture images of the area’s flora and fauna. The initiative aims to shed light on the diversity and predation process of the country’s Caribbean reefs. (El País 3/1//2013)

A change.org petition is calling on Juan José Guerra Abud, head of Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, to halt a mining project launched by the Mexican-Canadian firm Esperanza Silver de México. The gold mining initiative is located approximately half a kilometer from the Xochicalco archeological (and UNESCO World Heritage) site in state of Morelos. The petition, which has close to 800 signatures, is also directed at the state’s governor, given that Morelos has been severely impacted by the destruction of its natural ecosystems. (SDP Noticias 3/12/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photo by belgianchocolate]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Endesa and Colbún, the companies behind the controversial mega-dam project HidroAysén, have announced that the Committee of Ministers has until the end of April to reach a decision on the 35 claims submitted against the project. The statement comes two days after the Committee announced that it will not meet in March to review the claims, delaying their decision yet again. If the case is not settled in April, the companies will consider legal recourses to force a final decision. (Diario Financiero 3/8/2013; La Tercera 3/6/2013)

Although Santiago has made strides to combat air pollution—implementing new standards for public buses and prohibiting the burning of firewood during winter—air quality in the Chilean capital remains far below international standards. Measurements recorded during the first two months of this year show pollution levels between two and three times the “safe” limit recommended by the WHO. (The Santiago Times 3/1/2013)

Power generation from coal reached an unprecedented 30 percent of the SIC’s energy matrix, shows new data from the central electric grid’s system operator. The figure, which reflects an average for the first two months of this year, is partly a result of reduced hydroelectric production due to low snowmelt and dropping water levels in some of the country’s largest reservoirs. (Nueva Minería y Energía 3/6/2013)

With an aim to divorce economic growth from higher electricity consumption, Chile is seeking to meet 12 percent of the projected rise in domestic demand with improvements in energy efficiency by 2020. The target represents about 1,500 MW of avoided capacity increases, equivalent to nearly four thermal power generation plants or more than half of the proposed capacity of HidroAysén. (Pulso 3/5/2013)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Energy and Environment has tightened environmental controls in the Caño Negro, a nationally protected wildlife refuge located in the country’s north. The enforcement is a response to increased illegal logging, fishing and pollution in the area. In just January and February of this year, authorities seized 13,000 inches of wood, 665 fish and two turtles, and issued closure orders to eight pineapple plantations that were encroaching on park territory. (El Financiero 3/5/2013)

Seven businesses have become the first to receive carbon-neutral certification from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Energy and the Environment—a label they can place on their products and use in marketing materials. The companies, which include Florex, Café Britt, Travel Excellence, Geocycle, BAC, Euromobilia, and Mapache Rent a Car, reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 18 percent to receive the certification. (El Financiero 3/7/2013)

Mexico

The municipality of La Paz, Baja California Sur, is home to at least 33 active gold mining concessions, confirms the Mexican Ministry of the Economy. The concessions, which cover nearly 60,000 hectares, worry environmental groups because the city lacks a current Local Ecological Program (POEL). Development of the POEL—an instrument that is to govern natural resources exploitation in the area—has been dragging since 2006. (Peninsular Digital 3/6/2013)

Marking the Global Energy Efficiency Day, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has published an updated guide for renewable energy development. The resource includes 24 programs—a mix of public, private and international—that can provide technical and financial assistance to local governments and civil society organizations that pursue green energy projects. Last month, several organizations promoting renewable power generation called on the government to provide clarity regarding the regulations that govern investment the sector. (Tiempo 3/5/2013; El Economista 2/21/2013)

Nissan has announced that it will begin using wind energy to power its assembly plant in Aguascalientes, aiming to meet 50 percent of the facility’s total energy requirement through the renewable resource by 2016. In 2012, it became the first automotive plant in the world to introduce electricity generated from biogas into its manufacturing process. By the year’s end, biogas accounted for 9.3 GWh of electricity, or 5 percent of its total consumption. (Grupo Fórmula 3/6/2013)

Regional

Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Honduras have joined the E.U. and the U.S. to call for tighter regulations on the capture and trade of several shark species. The countries are seeking the addition of scalloped hammerhead sharks, porbeagle shark, oceanic white tip shark to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which is being negotiated this and next week in Bangkok. The international shark fin trade is placing increasing pressure on the species—100 million sharks are caught annually to satisfy demand, coming primarily from China and Japan. (El País 3/6/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

[Photo by  Walmart Corporate]

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Persistent drought in Chile’s central region has caused water levels to drop in six major reservoirs used for power generation. According to the SIC—operator of the country’s central electric grid—the largest deficit has been observed in the Chapo reservoir, where the water level is 5% below its historical average. This has reduced the proportion of electricity generated from hydropower in the region, from 45.8% in January 2012 to 40% in January 2013. (Electricidad 2/25/2013)

The Chilean Government has issued an international tender to support the construction of a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the country’s sunny north. The facility will boast 50 MW of installed capacity and come equipped with thermal storage, a system that will allow it to operate without sunlight for three hours at 85% capacity. Although 2,500 MW of CSP capacity is installed worldwide, the plant will be the first such facility in Latin America. (AméricaEconomía 2/28/2013)

Forty six false killer whales were found stranded on Caleta Susana beach in the Strait of Magellan. The whales, also known as black orcas, were discovered by local fishermen, who alerted the navy. Although 20 of the whales had already died, authorities were able to return 26 to sea. Scientists are still working to determine the cause of the beaching. (Santiago Times 2/26/2013)

Costa Rica

Between December 20, 2012 and February 15, 2013, thirty-five leatherback turtles came to nest on the beaches of the Las Baulas National Marine Park. Although this figure is consistent with the seasonal averages observed over the last decade, the number of nesting turtles in the area has plummeted 97% since 1988. The drop is largely a result of the uncontrolled egg harvesting that was rampant in the region throughout the 1980s. (La Nación 2/27/2013)

Jorge Jiménez Ramón, director of the MarViva Foundation—an organization that encourages the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources—has penned a new guide to marine management. The publication, which aims to be a technical reference and an input into Costa Rica’s official Marine Spatial Planning Guide, will be distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean. (El Financiero 2/28/2013)

Wastewater runoff is threatening Costa Rica’s largest rivers, claims a new report published by the Comptroller General of the Republic. Of the country’s 34 watersheds, 25 were found to have some level of fecal, chemical, or solid waste contamination. The report attributes the problem to a lack of a national policy on wastewater disposal and poor central and local monitoring. Estimates show that a staggering 95% of the wastewater that enters some of the country’s largest rivers is untreated. (La Nación 2/28/2013)

Mexico

A housing project under construction in Guadalajara will come equipped with solar power stations and solar lighting, claims Solar America Corp, a Mississippi-based company that has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the housing development’s principal contractor. Mexico is already a leader in solar power within Latin America, although experts say that the country continues to have significant untapped potential. (United Press International 2/25/2013)

According to a recent report released by ASF, Mexico’s federal audit authority, the country’s gasoline, diesel, liquid petroleum gas and power subsidies appear inconsistent and ineffective. The report criticizes the schemes, which are managed by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, for their lack of transparency and poor targeting. For example, ASF estimates that, in 2011, the richest 20% of households received 52.3% of gasoline and diesel subsidies. The poorest 20% received just 3.6%. (BN America 2/26/2013)

Legal troubles are mounting for Paraiso del Mar, the resort development in Baja California Sur that recently had its environmental impact assessment nullified by Mexico’s Federal Court for Fiscal and Administrative Justice. CEMDA—an NGO that seeks to strengthen the country’s environmental legal system—has now filed a complaint with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) stating that the project has been operating without a valid environmental permit since 2010. The complaint requests that PROFEPA investigate this claim and take appropriate action against the project. (Peninsular Digital 2/26/2013)

Regional

Countries in Central America have pledged to phase out inefficient lighting by 2016. The target is part of en.lighten, a UNEP and GEF-supported initiative that assists countries around the world in accelerating the transition to more efficient lighting technologies. Achieving greater lighting efficiency in the residential sector represents an energy savings of 1.41 TWh per year and can reduce Central America’s carbon dioxide emissions by 0.52 metric tons. (El Financiero 2/26/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Enersis, the owner of Endesa—the company that controls 51% of HidroAysén—believes that the mega-dam project will resume this year. Among the remaining roadblocks is a permit for the construction of a transmission line needed to move electricity from the dams to the country’s central electric grid. Approval of the line is pending an environmental impact assessment. Surpassing this hurdle, however, does not guarantee a clear go-ahead. The project is likely to face additional challenges, including securing its implementation in legally protected areas and consulting with indigenous groups where development impacts their territories, a process mandated by ILO Convention 169. (Pulso 2/19/2013; Diario Electrónico 2/20/2013)

Controversy continues to swirl around Barrick Gold Corporation’s Pascua Lama mining project in northern Chile. According to a statement presented to the Copiapó Court of Appeals, the company, which is accused of contributing to the pollution and melting of nearby glaciers, is attributing the observed glacial melt to climate change. The Toronto-based Barrick Gold—the world’s largest gold mining company—is currently facing four lawsuits in the country. (The Santiago Times 2/19/2013)

The turbulent waters of Chile’s Chacao Channel may hold significant potential for tidal power, claims new research from a group of Chilean and American scientists. The channel is estimated to have the third-strongest tidal current in the world, representing about 2,000 MW of energy potential. The Ministries of Energy and the Environment have offered support for developing Chile’s tidal and wave energy potential, although commercial production remains far off. (The Santiago Times 2/20/2013)

Costa Rica

Blue carbon—carbon dioxide stored in coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows—can help Costa Rica become carbon-neutral by 2021. The Térraba-Sierpe National Wetlands alone account for approximately 40% of the country’s carbon storage potential. Coastal wetlands sequester carbon up to 100 times faster than terrestrial forests, although deforestation and soil degradation threaten these ecosystem nation-wide. (The Costa Rica News 2/17/2013)

The Costa Rican coast guard has detected 14 illegal fishing vessels operating in the Golfo Dulce, intercepting one and identifying 13 others. This was the first operation undertaken by the country’s National Coast Guard Service after the death of 280 endangered sea turtles this past January raised suspicions of illegal fishing activities in the area. (El Financiero 2/14/2013)

Mexico

Specialists from the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INOE) have developed a solar-powered industrial steam generator as part of INOES’s program to advance solar energy technologies for the state of Puebla. The device promises to improve the competitiveness of the state’s rural industries, especially those that undertake pasteurization, distillation and dehydration processes. (Ecoticias 2/21/2013)

Speaking at the launch of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, a UN-backed initiative that will help 30 countries build their national green economy strategies, Mexico’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources reiterated the country’s commitment to sustainable development. Among the national goals outlined by Minister Guerra Abud are achieving sustainable and low-carbon growth, preserving the country’s biological diversity, and promoting efficiency in water management. (Semarnat Press Release, 2/19/2013)

Paraiso del Mar, a large-scale resort development in La Paz, Baja California Sur, is facing new legal troubles after the discovery of several anomalies in the granting of its environmental permits. In a recently released decision, the Federal Court for Fiscal and Administrative Justice determined that the project was given a legal go-ahead by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources even though it was not in compliance with Ministry’s regulation on mangrove protection. This decision has effectively nullified the project’s environmental impact assessment. (El Sudcaliforniano 2/21/2013)

Regional

INTERPOL has seized around eight millions of dollars’ worth of timber and made almost 200 arrests across Latin America in its first international operation targeting illegal logging. Carried out in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela, the operation sought to foster cooperation among national environmental law enforcement agencies as well as with INTERPOL and other international organizations. (INTERPOL media release 2/19/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

- See more at: http://www.newstaco.com/2013/02/21/latin-america-green-news-9/#sthash.HPg04Iuc.dpuf

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Non-conventional renewable energy projects are aiming to add more than 6,000 MW of installed capacity to the SING, Chile’s northern electricity grid. Among these are 4,384 MW of solar power—primarily photovoltaic, but also solar thermal—which will require an investment of over US$15 million, and 1,732 MW of wind power, which call for an investment of US$3.7 million. (Estrategia 2/15/2013)

With an investment of US$408 million, Chile will have more than 120 MW of installed geothermal capacity by 2016. Two plants are expected to come online in the coming years, including the Cerro Pabellón plant in the Antofagasta Region and the Curacautín plant in the Araucanía Region. The former, owned by Enel Green power, has already received its environmental approval and is expected to begin operations in 2015. Curacautín, which is being developed by Geo Global Energy, is still awaiting its environmental assessment and is expected to come online in 2016. (Estrategia, 2/13/2013)

Recognizing the role that shale gas has played in revolutionizing the global energy map, Colbun, Chile’s second largest electricity generator, is partnering with AES Gener toconstruct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal. However, the company—which is currently negotiating with LNG suppliers and has several other hydroelectric and coal-powered projects in the works—is aiming to temper expectations about the initiative, claiming that, for a small market such as that of Chile, the outcome of ongoing negotiations remains uncertain. (Diario Financiero 2/11/2013)

Santiago continues to be plagued by water shortages, with more than 4,800 households and 52 businesses experiencing water outages for the third time in three weeks. On Saturday, more than 4 million people and countless businesses were affected by a cut in water service, allegedly caused by increased mountain precipitation that has severely diminished the purity of the Maipo and Mapocho Rivers, the city’s main source of drinking water. (The Santiago Times 2/11/2013)

Lake Cachet 2, which lies on the Colonia glacier in Chile’s Aysén Region, has experienced its thirteenth glacial lake outburst flood—an event in which a glacial dam containing the lake is breached, causing the lake to drain of all of its water in a matter of hours. The flood generated increased flows in the Colonia and Baker Rivers, which registered peak volumes of 3,598 cubic meters per second, more than double the normal flow rate, and flooded parts of Route 7 South. (Que Fácil 2/12/2013)

Chile’s native forests are experiencing a resurgence, claims the country’s National Forestry Corporation (CONAF). Data shows that, in 2012, Illegal logging of native forests was the lowest in five years, while native forest land cover has increased by 169,008 hectares over the last 14 years. Citizen complaints have played an important role in increasing the rate of detection of illegal logging activities. This week, for example, CONAF upheld an illegal logging complaint made by a resident of Pucón against a local landowner; the local criminal court is now charged with identifying and prosecuting the responsible parties. (Nacional 2/13/2013; Bio Bio Chile 2/12/2013)

Costa Rica

The University of Costa Rica and the Korean Environment Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to help the Metropolitan Federation of the Municipalities of San José Jose convert municipal waste into electricity. Under agreement, the municipalities will deliver their solid waste to a new power generation plant for the next 25 years. The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity—the country’s government-run electricity service provider—will be legally obligated to purchase the electricity generated by the new facility. The initiative aims to promote alternative energy and diminish the size of landfills. (El Financiero 2/15/2013)

The Valle Central wind power project has been officially recognized by the United Nations for its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a designation that will allow the project to receive income from certified emissions reduction credits. The recognition is part of the UN’s international “Clean Development Mechanism”, a market-based tool that incentivizes the implementation of projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. (El Financiero 2/15/2013)

Mexico

Mexico has significant solar thermal power potential, claim researchers form the Renewable Energy Institute at the UNAM. Although the government has attempted to promote solar thermal projects in social housing through the Green Mortgages Program, its use in households is still limited. Financing remains a major barrier as installations require a sizable up-front investment. (Artículo 7 2/11/2013)

Biologists from the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) report the successful reproduction in the wild of the California condor—a vulture that is regarded as the largest land bird in North America and one of the rarest birds in the world. The achievement has particular significance given the fact that all condors currently present in Mexico have been born and bred in captivity and eventually reintroduced into the wild. (El Siglo de Torreón, 2/9/2013)

Juan José Guerra Abud, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, has announced the creation of a Council on Climate Change, which will be tasked with analyzing and advising on public policies aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of climate change. Although Mexico is responsible for only 1.3% of global greenhouse gas emission, it remains extremely vulnerable to climate change due to its biodiversity and the presence of multiple distinct climates and geographies. (El Economista 2/12/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Anamda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile:

“Caring for our energy together” will be the slogan of Chile’s Energy Efficiency Expo AChEE 2013, which will be held in Santiago in March. The Expo will bring together key stakeholders from the supply and demand side to showcase newly available technologiesand promote possible actions that both households and businesses can undertake to achieve greater energy efficiency. The business sector globally may be able to derive several important lessons from a new energy efficiency project implemented in one of the world’s most well-known edifices—the Empire State Building. One year since the building underwent a retrofit in 2011, its energy use has declined by nearly 40%, representing a savings of $2.4 million. (Electricidad 2/6/2013; Pulso 2/7/2013)

The Chilean northern electricity grid can gain 700 MW of capacity from non-conventional renewable sources this year, according to a report published by CDEC-SING. This includes 355.5 MW from solar (photovoltaic) energy and 345 MW of wind power. However it’s likely that the technical complexity of connecting to the grid may delay the start of operations of several of these projects. (Estrategia 2/8/2013)

Non-conventional renewable energy in Chile is getting a push from Rafael Mateo, former CEO of Endesa Chile and current director of ACCIONA Energia. The formerly staunch supporter of the hydroelectric project HidroAysen has recently shifted toward non-conventional renewable energy, backing solar and wind as the most promising energy sources for Chile’s future and questioning the indirect subsidies given to hydroelectric power. (El Diario de Aysén 2/6/2013)

Elvis Valdes, a member of the Cochrane City Council has published a harsh letter in El Mercurio, reproaching a group of citizens in Chile’s Aysen region that have criticized Bishop Luis Infanti for aiming to halt the development of the controversial HidroAysen project. Siting several inconsistencies in plans to relocate local residents, among other alleged offenses, the Councilor states that “those that have signed the letter supporting [Endesa] and expressing opposition to the Bishop’s sentiments clearly don’t know the reality that we live in southern Aysen.” (El Dínamo 2/5/2013)

Costa Rica:

Wetlands protection benefits coastal communities by ensuring access to adequate water supply and primary materials, as well as livelihoods through eco-tourism, claims a new report titled “The economics of ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands” published by the Ramsar Secretariat. Costa Rica contains 12 sites that form part of the Ramsar Convention—an intergovernmental treaty that promotes the sustainable management of wetlands through national action and international cooperation—covering approximately 10% of the country. (El Financiero 2/8/2013)

The national registry of protected areas is out-of-date, reports an audit performed by the Comptroller General of the Republic within the Ministry of Energy and the Environment. Sixty-one protected areas are missing from the National Natural Heritage registry, while the area of 14 is incorrect, representing a discrepancy of over 126,190 square kilometers. This lack of accuracy provokes errors in the calculation of land value and serves as a disincentive for registration. (El Financiero 2/8/2013)

On February 6, the Municipal Council of San Jose declared the San Jose canton to befree of genetically modified products. The unanimous decision was taken to promote public health, ensure biodiversity, and safeguard food security. The San Jose decision follows similar declarations by 26 other cantons, a movement that began in Paraiso de Cartago in 2005. (El País 2/5/2013)

Mexico:

Juan José Guerra Abud, the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, hascreated a commission to advise the president on the protection of the vaquita—a rare species of porpoise traditionally found in the northern Gulf of California. The commission will propose environmental, economic, and social actions to prevent the cetacean’s extinction and outline strategies to revive the population, which is currently critically endangered. (El Sol de México 2/6/2013)

According to the Director General of the 2013 International Electricity Expo, Mexico’s efforts to develop sustainable and renewable energy has placed it fourth among the world’ leaders in the promotion of clean energy. Although the country has made great technical strides toward energy sustainability, it still lacks the personnel to perform many of the innovative electrical installations. To begin addressing this issue, the upcoming Expo Electrica Norte, which will take place in Monterrey in March, will include special seminars to certify workers in electrical installation. (Diario de Yucatán 2/7/2013)

Mexico’s National Forestry Program (CONAFOR) is seeking to revitalize the country’s forest economy in 2013 and reduce deforestation and forest degradation with a new injection of funding and technical expertise. The program plans to sign fire cooperation agreements with individual states and the Federal District in order to strengthen the transmission of technical competencies and aims create 27,000 jobs in the forest sector through conservation initiatives and sustainable use projects. (SEMARNAT Press Release 2/7/2013)

Regional:

Wind power has incredible growth potential in Latin America, claims the CEO of the Danish firm Vestas. Central America and the Caribbean, in particular, have heightened appetite for renewable energy as the regions’ power generation relies heavily on diesel, which is dirty and unsustainable, and a limited amount of hydroelectric sources, which are highly cyclical. Complementing this is a very favorable financial environment, including high liquidity in the banking and investment sector. (El País 2/8/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Anamda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

4.80 GW of non-conventional renewable energy projects were approved by Chile’s environmental impact system in 2012, more than four times the 943 MW that were approved in 2011. Of the total approved, 3.14 GW were proposed solar projects, which surpassed the capacity of proposed wind projects for the first time. Another 2.40 GW of renewables projects are still under evaluation, including wind, solar, mini-hydro and geothermal plants.(Business News Americas 1/30/2013)

According to a new study, coal fired power plants represented 25 percent of the energy generation in Chile’s main grid, the SIC, in 2012 – the highest percentage in the last 11 years. At the same time, hydroelectric power fell to its lowest generation in a decade, at 41 percent. The study’s authors noted that imports of hydrocarbons grew to a record amount in the past year as well, and that they expect the role of coal power to grow over the coming years particularly as the country’s low rain levels continue for a fourth straight year. (Economía y Negocios 1/28/2012)

Borja Prado, the head of Endesa España –one of the companies that owns the controversial HidroAysén—said last week that the future of the hydroelectric project depends on the government’s approval, and that once the project has passed all of the necessary steps, the company will study the project’s profitability. “We have invested a lot of money in HidroAysén, but it is a project that has to undergo the government’s process,” he said. (El Mercurio 1/25/2013) The municipality of Chile Chico, located in the same region as HidroAysén’s proposed dams, rejected the project. The town’s mayor, Luperciano Muñoz, spoke out against the project and lamented that some members of the community had accepted money from the company. (Radio Universidad de Chile 2/1/2013)

The Transport Ministry announced a new regulation on auto emissions which will go into effect later this year, limiting some of the riskiest air pollutants to public health: nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide. The newly amended Decree 149 makes the current regulation 10 percent more demanding as of June 25, and will become 20 percent more demanding in 2015. Authorities say that approximately 100,000 vehicles in Santiago –of the area’s 1.6 million – will likely not comply with the new standard. (El Mercurio, via Terram.cl 1/26/2013)

Mayors of Chile’s Metropolitan Region near Santiago asked the government to nationalize Chile’s waters after a massive water shortage last week caused by the company Aguas Andinas left many in the country’s capital without water for hours. According to Article 19 of the Constitution, the rights for Chile’s waters are privatized, allowing private parties to buy and sell them as property. The petitioners, members of the Chilean Municipalities Association, argued that the government should manage all water resources and be charged with their environmental protection and sustainable use. (El Dinamo 1/24/2013)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was recognized as an international model in marine conservation at an event organized by the National Geographic Society during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The event acknowledged Costa Rica’s leadership in the creation of the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor, a four-country initiative that includes Cocos Island, Malepelo Island and the Galapagos Islands. (La Nación 1/28/2013)

Costa Rica’s Agromonte pineapple company received carbon neutral certificationfollowing a two year accreditation process under the in the international PAS2060 system. The certification process included accounting for emissions from fertilizers, herbicide, water and other resources used during the cultivation stage but did not consider other stages of production such as transportation. (El Financiero 2/1/2013)

Mexico

According to a new study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Vestas, nearly 92 percent of Mexicans favor renewable energy over conventional alternatives. The study also found that 65 percent of the people surveyed would pay up to 10 percent more for power generated by renewable sources. However, sixty-three percent of respondents also said they felt they had little access to information about energy consumption. (Informador 1/29/2013)

President Peña Nieto launched an Interagency Commission on Climate Change charged with defining a joint agenda and creating guidelines for a national policy on climate change.  The commission is composed of 13 federal agencies and will include the participation of civil society, private and academic leaders. The interagency effort will have a budget of 34,500 million pesos. (Diario Crítico de México 1/29/2013)

By 2020 renewables could represent a fifth of Mexico’s installed capacity, attract over 350 million pesos in investment, generate 50 million jobs and help cut 13 million tons of CO2, according to Mexico’s Undersecretary of Energy Planning and Transition Leonardo Beltrán who spoke at the  Mexico Windpower Congress and Expo. Speaking at the same event, the head of the Mexican Wind Association, Leopoldo Rodriguez, highlighted that in 2012 wind power represented over  two percent of the nation’s total installed capacity, or 1,4000 MW. (Noticias 1/31/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Hundreds of people took to the streets in the town of Ventanas to march “For a Decent Life,” demanding that no more new coal-fired power plants are built in the area. Ventanas was declared a “pollution saturated zone” in 1993, yet companies have continued building new plants there. Three thermoelectric plants and one copper refinery are currently operating in Ventanas. Soon the new Campiche coal plant will join them, and the Energía Minera plant, proposed by the national copper mining company Codelco –which would be among the biggest in the country—has been approved. Eduardo Quiroz, head of the artisanal fishermen in the area, said that “the Valparaíso region will die with another thermoelectric plant.” (Radio Universidad de Chile 1/12/2013)

Citizens in the Huasco River Valley are suffering from the environmental damage and consequent health impacts caused by the area’s industrial development. The area used to be a fertile desert oasis and healthy agricultural center in Chile’s northern Atacama Desert. But nearby power plants burning petcoke and a gold mine upstream of the valley’s river have created a dry and polluted environment, and people are suffering from a high incidence of cancer. (The Santiago Times 1/15/2013)

Minister of Energy Jorge Bunster announced the government’s newest proposal to encourage the country’s renewable energy sector, when he recommended that Congress increase the current law requiring 10 percent of total energy generation to come from renewable sources by 2024 to 15 percent by the same year. Previously, the government had proposed increasing the law to 20 percent by 2020, but has since stated that it believes that that goal would be too difficult to achieve. Carlos Finat, Executive Director of the Chilean Renewable Energy Association says the new proposal is too weak, and that the country could absolutely meet the 20 percent by 2020 proposal. (Nueva Mineria 1/17/2013)

Chile’s General Water Directory announced that some of the country’s major energy companies will have to pay fines this year for the water rights they have held but not used. Endesa received a $14 million fine; HidroAysén will have to pay $5.2 million; AES Gener’s fine is $7.3 million and Colbún will pay $3.2 million. The total amount of fines that the water authority announced is to more than $73 million. (Diario Financiero 1/17/2013)

After a surprise mudslide in San Jose del Maipo left 2 million people in Santiago without running water, many are questioning the country’s ecological policies, particularly those concerning deforestation and soil erosion. Although some officials have dismissed the event as a one-time occurrence, Senator Guido Girardi is calling for new legislative initiatives that prioritize ecosystem restoration as a means to prevent similar problems in the future. (The Santiago Times 1/23/2012)

Austral University, La Reserva Costera Valdiviana and Forestal Masisa will replant 2.5 million native tree species over 3,600 hectares in Valdivia’s coastal range, replacing the non-native eucalyptus trees that have spread there. These evergreen forests that stretch along 400 kilometers have lost half of their area in the last 100 years. (La Tercera 1/14/2013)

Costa Rica

Preliminary reports from scientific and environmental organizations show that the recent death of 280 sea turtles in the Golfo Dulce is likely caused by the turtles getting caught in fishing gear. Local fishing groups and NGOs have called on the government to quickly determine the cause of the turtle mortalities and take the necessary precautions to remedy the situation and protect the region’s marine resources.  These groups have repeatedly alerted authorities about the presence of long-line fishing boats within and in close proximity to the Golfo Dulce Responsible Fishing Marine Area where such practices are prohibited. Local communities are also alarmed that the presence of so many turtle carcasses could create a health risk to residents. (El País 1/24/2013; La Nación 1/25/2013)

The United Arab Emirates will finance a Costa Rican program to achieve 100% electricity service across the country through small scale renewable energy.  In Costa Rica there are still approximately 28,000 families without access to energy. This new program will allow the Costa Rican Electricity Institute and local cooperative to provide these families with access to modern energy services. The project will cost between $50 to $70 million, and will install mini hydro, wind and solar systems. (El Financiero 1/17/2013)

As part of the “Ideas” energy innovation contest held by the Interamerican Development Bank, the Costa Rican company Swissol will design a solar water heater geared at middle and low income sectors of the population. With the help of funding from the bank, Swissol will develop a prototype water heater during 2013. The goal is that production of 1,000 to 3,000 units will begin between 2014 and 2016. (El Financiero 1/16/2013)

Two hundred taxi drivers will be able to exchange their old taxis for new electric vehiclesunder a new “Green Taxi” initiative in Costa Rica. The Ministry of Environment and Energy signed an agreement with the local representative of the BYD car company which has already supplied green taxis in China and Colombia. Participating drivers can make $1,000 monthly payments to purchase the vehicles and will not have to pay the import tax.  (El Financiero 1/21/2013)

Under the leadership of the local group Aliarse, five municipalities and 20 companies in Costa Rica are coming together to launch a waste collection campaign. The “Greener Costa Rica” initiative aims to collect 55 tons of electronic waste this weekend, disassemble it and ship it to Canada for re-use. This is the second such waste collection campaign that Aliarse has spearheaded to help cut down on electronic waste in the country. (La Nación 1/25/2012)

For each $1,000 of GDP that Costa Rica produces it emits only 0.35 tons of CO2,making it one of the least carbon intensive countries.  In Latin America and the Caribbean, only El Salvador and the Bahamas have such low emissions per GDP. In 2004, Costa Rica’s emissions reached 0.43 tons, but have since dropped to levels between 0.34 and 0.36 tons. (El Financiero 1/14/2013)

Mexico

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) announced that modifications will be made to the Mexican Official Policy 163 with regard to vehicle efficiency. The new regulations will be revealed in the upcoming months but will chiefly match the environmental regulations for cars in other North American countries. The policy requires better technology for cars as well as a ban on selling any cars that could not be sold in the United States and Canada for environmental reasons. Juan José Guerra Abud is hoping that these new regulations will save 603 million barrels of oil, 1,000 million Mexican pesos on fuel, and reduce emission to 225 million tons of CO2. The new regulations will become valid during the 2014-2016 periods. (El Economista 1/17/13)

Pemex failed to immediately announce an oil spill that occurred on January 13, when a pipeline fractured during exploration of new wells. The spill occurred along the boundary line of Las Choapas and Agua Dulce yet the amount of the spill and extent of the damaged area is still unknown. Greenpeace is calling on the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to sanction Pemex for this spill and to strengthen existing regulations for notification of spills. (Greenpeace México 1/18/13).

The Secretary of the Environment, Juan José Guerra Abud, and the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Anthony Wayne, met to discuss and reaffirm their mutual commitment to ensure that the border region of the two countries remains an environmental priority. They addressed topics such as climate change, clean transportation, waste, water and biodiversity. (Biosfera: Sala de Prensa 1/18/13).

A report prepared for the US Congress by the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) identified Mexico as a nation where fishing activities resulted in the bycatch of protected species, referring to the incidental capture of loggerhead marine turtles in Baja California Sur.  According to the report, NMFS contacted Mexico via diplomatic channels regarding the situation and has yet to receive a reply to the inquiry. The report based its identification based on bycatch numbers reported by Mexican fishing and environmental entities. Mexican groups have voiced serious concern that very high turtle bycatch numbers in Mexico’s Gulf of Ulloa. (Octavo Día 1/16/2013)

At the 42nd meeting of the National Council of Protected Natural Areas, Francisco Moreno Merino of the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection and Luis Fueyo MacDonald of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas signed a three year agreement to strengthen the abilities of both groups to carry out their responsibilities. The agreement focused on the exchange of information and computer resources, consolidation of conservation and management programs, technical teamwork, and training. The goal is for this exchange of resources will promote more efficiency in the conservation of Natural Protected Areas, wildlife, marine wildlife and Federal Maritime Territory Zones. (Biosfera: Sala de Prensa 1/21/13).

President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration must decide in the coming weeks whether or not to allow Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bread to plant transgenic corn in 2.4 million hectares in Mexico. The upcoming decision is based on a process that began in 2009 when a moratorium on transgenic products ended and the approval of experimental planting began.  NGOs have expressed serious concerns about the health and environmental impact of planting genetically modified crops in Mexico. (El País, 1/12/13)

Regional

A new study published in the journal The Cryosphere found that Andean glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates – the fastest rates in over 300 years. The Andean glaciers are a source of fresh water for tens of millions of people in South America, but have shrunk between 30 and 50 percent since the 1970s due to the planet’s rising temperatures. Scientists warned that further melting could cause some Andean glaciers to disappear entirely, impacting communities who rely on them for water supply. (The Guardian 1/23/2013)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Chile’s Minister of Energy, Jorge Bunster, proposed a new tender system for renewable energy, which would competitively bid out renewable energy contracts to independent generators. This proposal would replace the government’s previous one, called “the 20-20 law,” which would have required that 20 percent of Chile’s electricity supply to come from renewables by 2020. If implemented, the new tendering scheme would mean that traditional large generators would no longer need to meet the current obligation of obtaining between 5 percent and 10 percent of electricity from renewable sources. Instead, specialized renewable energy suppliers would compete to supply this power but without set obligations. (Plataforma Urbana 01/09/13)

Chile’s Committee of Ministers, its highest administrative authority, delayed ruling on the controversial HidroAysén mega-dam project again, this time until March. The Committee must assess the almost two thousand appeals that were filed against the project’s environmental approval, by civil society and by the company itself. Environment Minister Maria Ignacio Benitez says that the committee may need more time to review the appeals, while environmental groups feel the decision is political and not technical. (Radio Universidad de Chile 01/10/2013) The Catholic Church’s Bishop of Aysén, Luis Infanti, delivered letters to the five ministers in the committee, urging them not to rule on the HidroAysén based on purely economic interests, but to also consider social interests. (Cooperativa 01/09/2013)

Chile is warming, claims new evidence from Catholic University’s Institute of Geography. Attempting to quantify the impact of global warming on the country over the past three decades, the research determined that the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Santiago have increased between 0.19°C-0.32°C and 0.07°C-0.15°C per decade, respectively. These figures are in line with climate projections that show Chile’s average temperature increasing between 2°C and 3°C by the end of the century in the worst-case scenario. (La Tercera 01/06/2013)

A study completed by Solarbuzz, a solar energy market research company, has named Chile a regional leader in solar energy, indicating that the country will represent more than half of all photovoltaic energy generated in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2017. Although the country’s total solar capacity is still relatively low—the estimate includes both currently operating facilities as well as proposed projects—there is substantial interest in expanding the role of solar power in energy generation. Upon completion, plans currently being considered would add close to 760 MW to the Chilean grid. (La Tercera 01/07/2013)

Costa Rica

The Environment Commission of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly will consider a proposal to create a new canton (a Costa Rican administrative division) joining Corcovado with Bahía Drake and parts of Sierpe. The idea of a new “ecological” canton was presented by local residents as a popular initiative with the goal of strengthening environmental conservation in the Osa region. (El Financiero 1/7/2013)

A group of about 100 false killer whales are visiting Caño Island, about 20 kilometers off of the coast of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Some individuals have stayed in the vicinity up to a month and a half. Generally this species is found in deeper waters far from the coast. Costa Rica’s Osa is an exception, making the region an important site to study the species. (La Nación 1/11/2013)

Mexico

Scientists announced that they expect fewer gray whales to be born off the Baja California Sur coast this year than normal, due to the lack of food available to the whales in the Arctic. A biologist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Wayne Peryman, says that these whales found less food in the Arctic and that this will affect their reproduction. Around 20,000 gray whales make the 15,000 kilometer trip every year from the Arctic to Mexico’s Baja California Sur to give birth and raise young. (Octavo Día, 1/03/13).

The new Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (Sermanat), Juan José Guerra Abud, stated that Mexico has a responsibility to ensure that all future economic growth is sustainable. “Economic growth has to be sustainable, that is our responsibility, we are not going to permit development to violate environmental laws…” To achieve this Guerra Abud wants to fortify the human capacity of the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa) with staff from Semarnat to allow Profepa to better monitor compliance with environmental laws. He also noted the upcoming release of new policies that will bring emissions in line with levels permissible in the U.S. and prevent the use of cars that do not meet new emission standards. Finally, Guerra Abud will look to achieve the goal of protecting 17 percent of the nation’s surface area and 10 percent of its oceans. (Veracruzanos.info 1/08/13).

The CEO of International Power Expo, Alberto Segura Larios, noted Mexicans’ increasing awareness of renewable energy and sustainability and how that will contribute to Mexico being a large driver of renewable energies this year. The growing awareness has led an increasing number of people to participate in sustainable energy programs. Many Mexican businesses are also finding new technologies and practices that promote intelligent consumerism and environmental protection. (Reve 1/2/13).

Regional

The town of Río Negro diverged from the national government of Argentina with itsdecision to ban all unconventional exploration or extraction of hydrocarbons, including fracking. The Cinco Saltos City Council’s seven members all voted unanimously for the ban, using health and potential negative environmental effects as the main reason for this ban. The town, which has already had its share of contamination with mercury, is most concerned about the water supply safety. Because fracking utilizes so much water in its process, as well as so many chemicals, the town believes that there is no fail-proof way of containing all of the possible contaminates. Cinco Saltos leads the way as the first jurisdiction in Latin America to pass such a ban. (The Independent Argentina 1/10/13).

A new report highlights that Latin America has excellent opportunity for wind power growth. The region’s current and future wind projects could have a total installed capacity of 46 GW by 2025. Brazil will lead have a significant lead in the region, with 31.6 GW of installed capacity by that time. Mexico is likely to have the second highest installed wind capacity in 2025, with 6.6 GW. (Renewable Energy World 01/10/2012)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

The Supreme Court ruled this week that the environmental approval for the Pirquenes coal plant in the Biobío Region was illegal, and that the local authorities would have to conduct a new vote. The court upheld an earlier decision by an appeals court that the $80 million, 50 megawatt plant requires an environmental impact assessment for the approval. The company argues that no plant of that size has needed an environmental impact assessment before. But, those who oppose Pirquenes and representatives of the local government argue that Pirquenes is a special case. It plans to extract water from the local drinking supply, the land will be contaminated with pentachlorophenol, a toxic chemical, and the project’s environmental impact declaration was made before the 8.8 magnitude earthquake of 2010. (Radio Universidad de Chile 11/28/2012)

Mining industry executives celebrated the inauguration of the world’s largest thermo-solar energy plant connected to a mine, on Thursday. A $15 million investment, the new plant will use parabolic troughs to heat mining solutions used for copper production, and will replace 55 percent of the diesel fuel currently used for these processes, saving the company $2 million annually. By doing so, the new plant will also reduce the company’s carbon emissions by more than eight thousand tones, or four percent of the company’s total emissions. (Revista Electricidad 11/30/2012)

Chile’s Senate approved the highly controversial new fishing law after five intense days of debate. The Senate began discussing the law on November 20th, but needed several days to address the nearly 1000 suggested changes to the text. The bill now returns to the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, for its third round of discussion there. (La Nación 11/29/2012)

Costa Rica

Starting this coming January, Costa Rica will start importing diesel and gasoline with a lower sulfur content. Sulfur content in diesel will drop from 50 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm. Sulfur in gasoline will drop from 200 ppm to 80 ppm. The cleaner fuels will meet sulfur standards applicable in Europe, and make Costa Rica the leader in low-sulfur fuel in Central America.  Costa Rica’s new fuel standards will also limit the amount of MMT, an additive that can harm gasoline engines. (Inside Costa Rica 11/30/2012)

Costa Rica’s President Chinchilla and Minister of the Environment signed a decree declaring the import, use and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the public interest.  The government claims importing natural gas would help meet the country’s transportation and electricity needs at a lower cost than petroleum, and with lower greenhouse gas emissions.  According to the government, Costa Rica is poised to begin imports in six months. Costa Rica’s College of Geology disagree with the government’s cost estimates, predicting that importing LNG would be just as expensive as importing oil.  As an alternative to importation, the College is calling for the lifting of the moratorium on natural gas exploration in the country. (La Nación 11/21/2012)

An extremely rare frog thought to be extinct in the 1980s has reappeared in Costa Rica, but now in a different ecosystem  and at a higher altitude. Formerly, the frog was found only in mountainous areas between 1,210 and 2,040 meters above sea level.  Its recent re-discovery in Costa Rica was at an altitude of 2,300 meters. The frog’s re-location may be possibly due to climate change according to herpetologist Alan Pounds. (El País 11/30/2012).

Mexico

In a big win for Mexican civil society, Desarrollos Zapal has withdrawn its Environmental Impact Manifestation for their highly controversial mining project, Los Cardones, which they had submitted for review to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). The company wishes to wait and resubmit the manifestation once the new federal administration has taken control and is in position. (Peninsular Digital 11/30/2012).

Maremotrices de Energias Renovables (Marersa), a Mexican energy company, intends to start building four wave energy projects totaling 30 megawatts in February. The company, based in Mexico, City, will construct 450 buoys that capture the movement of waves to produce this energy, and will be selling it at costs 20% lower than the cost of energy from the Federal Commission on Energy. An anonymous investment bank is backing Marersa’s projects with $100 million in equity. (Bloomberg 11/23/2012).

The Secretary of Energy (Sener) is contributing to the current administration’s legacy as a proponent of renewable energy by publishing five detailed studies on the potential for wind power, solar power, geothermal, biomass and cogeneration. Each study highlights the benefits of these renewable sources as well as different techniques of maximizing each one, and offering regulations that will make for safer production and a greener future. The contents of the studies are available on the Sener website. (Reve 11/26/2012).

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

Amanda Maxwell is a born and bred Jersey girl, but has lived for varying amounts of time in Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, and the Czech Republic before moving to Washington, DC. Prior to joining NRDC she received my Masters degree in International Politics and Economics with a focus in Renewable Energy policy from Charles University in Prague. While there, she gained an appreciation for night running, train travel (especially of the high speed variety), and the local pivo. She received a Bachelors degree in history and Spanish from Middlebury College, and also studied in Buenos Aires.