NewsTaco

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Fifty half-dressed activists covered in blue paint greeted Senators on their way into the congressional building on Wednesday, advocating for the politicians not to pass a controversial fishing law. The activists, organized by GreenPeace, said that the proposed new law would lead to serious miscounts of the number of fish caught, thereby skewing official numbers and threatening the health of Chile’s fisheries. A 2010 study by the Undersecretary of Fishing found that 13 of the 22 types of commercial fish are highly or over-exploited. The fishing law was passed in July in the lower house, and the Senate is expected to vote in mid-November. (Santiago Times 10/31/2012)

Companies submitted plans for eighteen new salmon-farming projects to the environmental impact system in October alone, totally $41 million in investments. The majority of them propose to expand existing salmon feedlots. The company that contributed half the number of projects and the investment is Ventisqueros S.A., which submitted nine proposals to expand its salmon feedlots, for a total of $20.8 million. (Aqua.cl 10/31/2012)

Costa Rica

Based on 2011 data gathered by Costa Rica’s National University, air pollution levels in the San José greater metropolitan stayed the same over the past year, but there’s an increasing chance of acid rain. The data was gathered as part of air quality improvement program launched in 2008 which seeks to reduce particulate emissions and meet air quality standards by 2013. (El Financiero 10/29/2012)

Costa Rica will seek to join the Global Carbon Fund, an initiative created by the United Nations to help developing country address climate change. By 2020, the Fund aims to have $100 billion in resources. According to Alvaro Umaña from the Environment for Development Center and a former Costa Rican Minister of Environment this fund will need to layout clear parameters, long term policies and allow for coordinated and varied financing options including a carbon tax, an area where Costa Rica has already set an example.  (El Financiero11/2/2012)

Mexico

Mexico could cover its entire electricity demand by only utilizing 4 percent of its potential capacity of solar power, according to Carlota de las Mercedes Cagigas Castello, Advising Coordinator of the Ministry of Energy. She stated that Mexico’s solar generation potential is currently almost 6,550 terawatts hours (TWh) daily, making it a necessity to take advantage this resource. It will be a challenge for Mexico to reduce greenhouse gases and create a cost-competitive clean energy sector in the next 15 years, as the lack of investment and the prioritization of fossil fuel plants are preventing solar’s development. Cagigas Castello said that non-fossil fuel sources should contribute 35 percent of total energy generation by 2026. The Ministry of Energy has created three scenarios to meet that goal. The first is to develop all possible energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar; the second focuses on investing in nuclear energy; and the third combine the first two. (El Universal 10/03/2012)

The government of the Federal District in Mexico City awarded the Spanish power company BMLMX the rights to develop a biogas generation plant at the Bordo Poniente landfill for 25 years. BMLMX will invest 2.121 billion pesos to close the landfill, capture the biogas and build an energy plant. The closing of Bordo Poniente will save Mexico City 800-1,000 million pesos, 90 million pesos in compost and more than six billion pesos in energy costs. Fernando Aboitiz, Secretary of Public Works, stated that this investment will help the city reduce greenhouse gas emissions and free up money to use for other projects such as public transportation. (Milenio 11/01/12)

Mexico’s Green Ecology Party (PVEM) highlighted the environmental and health risks at the heart of the proposed open pit mining project by Desarrollos Zapal called Los Cardones. The gold and silver mine, proposed on September 5th on 44,000 hectares of land, would be located in the state of Baja California Sur, and PVEM claims it represents a “danger” to ecosystems in the biosphere reserve of Sierra de la Laguna, a protected area since 1994. PVEM noted that this project has already been submitted for evaluation twice, under different names, and both times it was rejected due to its lack of compliance with the required environmental standards. PVEM is urging the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to reject it again. (La Informacion 10/30/2012)

One of the world’s largest cement companies, Cemex announced their participation in an investment fund aiming to raise $300 million for clean energy projects in Mexico  by offering capital development certificates in the Mexican stock exchange. The first projects Cemex plans to propose for the fund are two wind parks, named Ventika and Ventika II, which would be built in the northern state of Nuevo León, cost around $550 million and have a capacity of 250 megawatts. (Terra 10/30/12).

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 Energy Undersecretary, Sergio del Campo, announced that the government will begin studying the potential for building nuclear power plants again. The government had been analyzing this option but stopped after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. Del Campo underscored that the administration does not intend to start a full nuclear program, but rather wants to generate information in case future administrations want to pursue nuclear energy options. (Santiago Times 10/24/2012)

New problems at a major CMPC cellulose plant in central Chile led to another episode of air contamination on Tuesday. That morning, citizens noticed a horrible stench that caused headaches, nausea and vomiting, which the company says was caused by a mechanical failure in the ventilation system. CMPC, a company belonging to the Matte group, has had similar problems in the past, for example in Nacimiento where citizens continued to suffer from ongoing pollution even though the plant there had been fined for contamination and bad odors. (Radio Universidad de Chile 10/25/2012)

Government and industry representatives announced that they expect liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to supply a third of Chile’s electricity demand by 2020, due to $4.5 billion of investment in new projects in the coming years. Currently, LNG meets 23 percent of the demand in the central main grid, and 10 percent in the northern grid.  (La Tercera 10/21/2012)

In 2012, growth in the installed capacity of Chile’s main central grid will be four times what it was in 2011, with new generation projects adding 931 MW of new power. Two of the major projects contributing to this total are the Santa María coal-fired power plant, from the Chilean energy company Colbún, with 350 MW, and the Bocamina II coal-fired power plant from international energy company Endesa, with 350 MW. (La Segunda 10/22/2012, CentralEnergía.cl)

Chile was rated among the top ten countries with the most “green” stamped buildings. Seventeen of Chile’s existing buildings meet the energy efficiency and environmental requirements needed to qualify for LEED’s (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) stamp of approval, and the evaluation included the 152 buildings in total (in construction or already built). The first place country was the United Arab Emirates, which had more than 700 projects already LEED certified or in the process of certification. (La Tercera 10/22/2012)

Costa Rica

Based on one analysis, Costa Rica could achieve carbon neutrality by 2021 by cutting emissions by 26 percent, a total of about 5,800 gigatons of carbon dioxide. The country’s greenhouse gas inventory predicts that by 2021 Cost Rica will emit 21,700 Gt of CO2 – 61% of which would come from transportation, 24% from agriculture, 11 % from waste management, and 4% from industry. The nation’s forests will offset about 15,900 Gt of these emissions leaving 5,800 gigatons that will need to be cut. The country could achieve these emission reductions in transportation and industry (3,300 Gt), cement production (100 Gt), agriculture and waste management (2,425 Gt).  (El Financiero  10/19/2012)

Large energy users and the private electricity generators in Costa Rica see a dark futureif there’s no action to increase energy production and lower rates. Criticizing the government for its lack of vision for the energy sector, they pointed out that while the country is importing electricity from its neighbors at increasing prices, the national electricity company is prohibited from buying additional power from local private generators that produce hydro and wind power. They also questioned the wisdom of focusing 75% of the hydroelectric expansion in the country on just two dams – the Diquis and Reventazón projects – both of which face delays.  (El Financiero 10/24/2012)

Mexico

Toyota and the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (MAIA) took legal action to stop the passage of proposed regulations, called NOM 163, to improve Mexico’s fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. NOM 163 would harmonize Mexico’s fuel efficiency standards with those of the U.S. and Canada, and help the country meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020. Toyota and the MAIA argue that the new regulations would be too strict and would raise the price of producing cars, thereby reducing sales. The government says that reducing the amount of fuel that Mexico’s fleet uses could reduce CO₂ emissions by 160 million tons by 2030. (Reuters Africa 10/26/2012)

President Calderón initiated a new Law on Dumping in Mexican Marine Zones to increase the Marine Secretary’s abilities (Semar) to prevent and reduce pollution in Mexican waters. The law would give Semar the power to enact preventative and security measures, grant and rescind dumping permits, and destroy vessels that are not in accordance with the law. Permission for dumping would only be granted if it presented no serious effects to the ecosystem or to human health, and any material that is too toxic or that can be treated or recycled would be refused. The new law would comply with international standards and the objectives of the National Development Plan 2007-2012. (Hoy Tamaulipas 10/25/12)

Thanks to $50 million in credit from the North American Development Bank (NADBank), El Provenir is investing $51 million in a new wind park for Victoria City in the state of Tamaulipas. The company has been studying the possibility of installing four 20-KW turbines in the area for three years, and hopes to initiate its project next year. Nine companies have expressed interest in wind projects in Tamaulipas, and those projects’ combined capacity could reach 1,600 MW. (Terra 10/22/12)

Also in renewable news, the governor of Coahuila de Zaragoza, Rubén Moreira, and the General Director of Spain’s National Renewable Energy Center (CENER) signed an agreement allowing the two groups to work together on renewable energy. According to the two-year agreement, CENER will advise Coahuila on the use of renewable energy as the focal point of social and economic development, on studies of the potential for renewable energy, and on the evaluation of potential project sites. (Reve 10/23/12).

Mexico’s Green Ecologist Party (PVEM) expressed concern about new oil wells that the state oil company, Pemex, has started drilling off the coast of Matamoros in the Gulf of Mexico. Humberto Rangel Vallejo, head of PVEM’s northern office, believes that drilling can be done responsibly, or it could done with ruinous consequences, as has happened at the Coatzacoalcos River and the Champayán Lagoon. He stated that “that is what worries us, that there are spills, and with them pollution; we want Pemex to come and take advantage of this area, but with great responsibility to the Matamoros coast.” (Conexión Total 10/24/12)

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 made a landmark decision rejecting the controversial 2100 MW Castilla coal-fired power plant, proposed by Brazilian businessman Eike Batista and the German company E.ON. The Court ruled that the company cannot submit separate environmental impact assessments (EIA) for the generation plant and the port it would build to import coal –as it has done—but rather must submit one EIA for both components together. (Diario Financiero 8/29/2012) Responses to the decision were varied, and some saw an opportunity to challenge the HidroAysén mega-dam proposal on the same argument, as its five dams are being evaluated separately from its transmission line. (Terram.cl 8/29/2012, Radio Universidad de Chile 8/29/2012)

President Piñera and his advisors presented the much-anticipated plan for the “Public Electricity Highway” on Thursday. The proposal is intended to create a stable national transmission network, and must be approved by Congress. Representatives from the electric sector had mixed reactions, some saying it would not achieve its stated goal of helping new renewable energy projects connect to the grid. (Diario Financiero 8/30/2012, Santiago Times 8/30/2012) Technical experts and civil society groups also criticized the plan, saying that Chile’s transmission system needs improvements, but that this proposal would not achieve that goal. (FuturoRenovable.cl 8/31/2012)

Costa Rica

Personnel from Costa Rica’s park system will receive training from U.S. park specialists under a new agreement signed between the U.S. National Park Service and Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC). The agreement will facilitate collaboration on planning, development, administration and operation of national parks in both countries. In particular, this initiative will help improve trails in 15 Costa Rican parks through increased use of technology. (La Nación 8/27/2012)

Mexico

La Rivera Desarrollos, the company behind the recently proposed Los Pericúes coastal tourism project, announced it was removing the project’s environmental impact statement from consideration. The company, while insisting its project is environmentally sustainable, explained its decision was made in an effort to reach out to the local community and civil society and engage them in dialogue about the project. (Peninsular Digital 9/2/2012) The announcement occurred amidst growing concern from civil society groups that the Los Pericúes proposal was strikingly similar to the Cabo Cortés project – a controversial plan to build a mega resort that endangered the Cabo Pulmo National Park. (Peninsular Digital 8/30/2012)

The Inter-American Bank of Development (BID) has approved a loan of $76 million to finance a renewable energy wind park, constructed by a subsidiary of Enel Green Power SpA.  This is the fourth park of its kind financed by BID in Oaxaca since 2009. It includes 37 turbines which can produce up to 287 gigawats/hour annually and reduce up to 172,265 metric tons of carbon emissions per year. The team manager of the Department of Corporate and Structured Financing of BID, Brian Blakley states: “This project will contribute to the achievement of the Mexican objective to reduce 50 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.” (Ecoticias 8/30/2012)

The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) has rejected a wind farm project proposed by the Mexico Power Group. The proposal, submitted a year ago, included building 115 wind turbines within 10 years over an area the size of thousands of football fields in Cozumel, and specified 32 negative environmental effects along with preventative measures. The proposal was rejected on the grounds of its harmful environmental impacts in that particular area as well as inaccuracies and inconsistencies about how much area was needed for the project. While SEMARNAT does recognize the advantages of wind power, they stated that Cozumel was not the place for this wind farm. The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) applauded SEMARNAT’s ruling. Mexico Power Group will be re-proposing another, greatly reduced project, in the far south of the island for only 26 turbines. (ThisIsCozumel.com 8/28/2012)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

Four new photovoltaic solar energy projects received environemental approval from Chile’s authorities. When built, the four –Encuentro Solar, Laberinto Solar Estes, Crucero Solar and Laberinto Oeste—will have a combined installed capacity of 327 MW at a total price tag of $1.210 billion. (Estrategia 8/21/2012)

Chile’s government announced some details about its much-anticipated “public electricity highway,” which it is calling “the proposal for a robust and sustainable transmission system.” The government stated that the proposal will not be a plan for a specific line, but rather changes in legislation that govern how transmission lines are built. It will hold a tender process giving private consultants two years to present their planned designs. It also said that environmental issues are not priority concerns for the project. When the proposal is finished, the government will present it to Congress for approval. (La Tercera 8/23/2012)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica will soon have a new Vice Ministry of Water and Seas under the Ministry of Environment of Energy.  The government hopes this new department will help keep the country’s rivers clean and protect its marine resources, two areas where much work remains to be done. Despite its green reputation, Costa Rica is home to the most polluted river in Central America and its oceans and wetlands are under pressure. (El País 8/25/2012)

To  cut down on fishing and commercialization of at risk species the Costa Rican NGO has published a guide to help consumers identify fish and shellfish species. The guide was developed following passage of a law earlier this year that requires labeling fishery products using the commercial name of the species. Many fishermen will attempt to sell species accidently caught as by catch, like endangered sharks, under other names. This guide aims to help eliminate that practice. (El Financiero 8/20/2012)

Costa Rica was recognized by the Secretariat of the Montreal Ozone Protocol for its advances in ozone layer protection. Since 1991 Costa Rica has taken several steps, such as creating a national license system for regulated substances, that allowed it to completely eliminate chlorofluorocarabons in 2010.  (El Financiero 8/20/2012)

Mexico

The Mexican group CEMDA alerted that a new coastal resort is proposed near Cabo Pulmo National Park, where the cancelled Cabo Cortés development was once planned. The new project called Los Pericúes is proposed by the Spain-based company, OHL Desarrollos in conjunction with Desarrollos La Ribera. CEMDA noted that the developer already has a concession for 4.5 million cubic meters of water in the Santiago Aquifer. The group also highlighted that the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa) recently recognized the need to investigate the cancelled Cabo Cortés project  for irregularities. (Peninsular Digital, 8/24/2012)

Although Mexico has great potential for renewable energy, such as solar power, currently only 3 percent of the country’s energy needs are met by renewable sources. While Mexican researchers have studied solar applications for years, these efforts have not been scaled up yet and there are which must still be imported. (Informador 8/21/2012). One region looking to tap into its abundant renewable resources is Durango which has some of the world’s greatest solar potential. Durango authorities are looking into thefeasibility of building a renewable energy center to help the region develop its renewable energy resources and reduce its reliance on imported energy. (El Sol de Durango, 8/20/2012)

The concessions that were granted during  former President Fox’s administration in the Nayarit Riviera have become a point of contention between environmental groups, neighboring communities and the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SERMANAT). Many local groups have complained that the owners of these concessions have been negatively impacting the environment and impeding their access to the beaches. The Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa), the Federal Zone of Marine Territory (Zofemat) and SERMANAT have announced that they are open to receive all formal complaints about the revocation of these concessions. (Milenio, 8/22/2012)

Due to the sinking of a buoy owned by Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), six beaches have been contaminated with oil. The Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa) has ordered PEMEX to commence all possible actions to impede the spread of the oil and to begin removing the substance from the 6 beaches found contaminated. Profepa quoted a law passed that states that all incidents must be reported immediately to prevent undue damage to the environment. PEMEX waited days after the sinking to notify the proper authorities. (Boletin, 8/23/2012)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

With 70 votes in favor, Chile’s Chamber of Deputies approved the creation a Commission for Hydro Resources, Desertification and Drought this week to oversee legislative proposals related to water scarcity, international agreements and treaties. The commission will also create proposals to address the urgent drought situation that is affecting thousands of Chileans.  (Pulso 8/14/2012)

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning announced a new energy efficiency grant program after an analysis showed that solar panels in housing have created annual savings of up to 40 percent in utility bills. The Ministry aims to build upon these savings with the new grants for solar water heaters, wall linings and seals for insulation, among other investments. Minister Rodrigo Pérez stated that the program “is attractive because the investment is quickly recovered with these levels of savings.” (El Mercurio 8/14/2012)

Major distribution company Chilectra signed an agreement this week to develop the first “smart city” prototype in the country. The pilot model will incorporate electric mobility projects, telemetry, automated operating departments, photovoltaic generation, automated electric grids, LED lighting and public wifi components. (Diario Financiera 8/16/2012)

SunEdison submitted an environmental impact assessment for a new $171 million photovoltaic plant in Chile’s northern Antofagasta region. The project, called the María Elena Photovoltaic Park, will have a total installed capacity of 72MW and will connect to the northern power grid to help meet the mining industry’s growing electricity needs. The deadline for the government’s review of the environmental impact assessment is November 16. (Diario Financiero 8/16/2012)

Members of Parliament have asked President Piñera to take concrete actions to help control the spread of the invasive Didymo algae that has invaded southern Chile’s rivers over the past several years.  Authorities in the Agriculture and Ranching Service, the National Fishing Service, and Deputy Patricio Vallespín collected support from a wide variety of legislators for their initiative. The spread of Didymo, or “rock snot,” is a “grave situation,” according to Vallespín, who said it “creates an absolute deterioration of the ecosystem.” (Mundo Acuícola 8/13/2012)

Costa Rica

The proposed construction of the Cocodrilo Marina in the Golfo Dulce of the Osa Peninsula could threaten two wetlands as well as local marine wildlife and habitat. According to a study by Costa Rican oceanographer Guillermo Quirós Alvarez, the proposed project would add 259 additional vessels to the gulf, bringing the total number of vessels navigating in the Golfo Dulce to 740. Quirós cautions that there is insufficient scientific data to fully assess the impact this level of marine traffic could have on the gulf’s fragile marine ecosystems. Quirós has launched a petition  urging Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and the Minister of Environment to cancel the project.  In addition to calling for the project’s permits to be overturned, he also recommends decreeing that the Golfo Dulce has reached its capacity for supporting projects that would increase the number of vessels. (El País 8/17/2012)

Costa Rica scored 60 out of a total 100 possible points in Nature magazine’s recentOcean Health Index, meeting the global average.  The country scored well in terms of sustainable use of corals, shells, algae and non food ocean products. However, progress is needed in terms of harvesting seafood sustainably and maintaining the health of coastal tourism and recreation destinations. (El Financiero 8/17/2012)

The United National Development Program will invest US $ 3.3 million over the next three years to protect 1.85 million hectares in Costa Rica. The project, a partnership with the Global Environment Fund, will support local initiatives to preserve biodiversity, protect water resources and mitigate climate change. The program will work directly with rural communities with the goal that by 2015, at least 800 families will be able to generate income based on sustainable production practices. (El País 8/14/)

Mexico

The Executive Director of Conermex, Francisco Solís, stated that there is great potential for a solar energy market in Mexico but it is not a system that will happen overnight. While developing a market may take a few years the cost of solar panels is already dropping and  an average home could save more than 40 percent. Mexico in particular has many available resources such as utilizing the solar energy in the Sonora Desert. The company also plans on expanding to Panama because of its growing market for renewable energy, with hopes that eventually all of Central America will be utilizing renewable energy sources. (El Economista 8/5/2012).

The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, announced that during the 2011-2012 season there was no illegal logging activity in the core territory of the Monarch Butterfly Reserve. Elvira Quesada highlighted that over the past four years the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa) office has carried out permanent forest monitoring activities with the support of federal, state and municipal security forces, which helped stop logging of healthy lumber and dismantle sawmills in prominent logging communities. (Diario de Yucatán 8/16/2012)

Secretary Elvira Quesada pledged $114,123 to ensure the continuance of the Reintroduction of the Californian condor project in Baja California. Started in 2002, the U.S.-Mexico collaboration aims to reintroduce the California condor into its natural habitat. The project helps to raise and then release these birds in order to begin having young that are born in the wild. The first release, in 2002, included six birds donated from the Los Angeles Zoo. Other organizations participating in this project are the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the National Commission of the Protection of Natural Areas (Conanp). (Diario de Yucatán 8/12/2012)

In Centla, Tabasco, the federal government has begun a project, run by Conagua Tabasco, to dredge up the Tabasquillo River and widen its boarders in order to prevent flooding and accommodate the large quantities of water that passes through this region, despite the intense protests made by the neighboring communities. The Tabasquillo River is home to countless species of wildlife, including the white turtle and manatees, and is under the protection of the Marshes and Biosphere Reserve. Because of the machinery work taking place, many of the natural species have started to migrate or die. (Kaos en la Red 8/14/2012).

The “Sustainable Light” project in Mexico has made the Guinness Book of World Records for replacing 22.9 million incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient ones. In the first stage of this project, the Mexican government, partially financed by the World Bank, handed out four florescent light bulbs to any resident who presented four incandescent light bulbs, an electricity bill and an ID. The anticipated results are that the energy normally consumed in a year in Nayarit or Colima will be saved, and individually each family can save up to 18 percent on their electricity bills. The second stage is already planned and will consist of families who have not yet participated receiving eight florescent light bulbs in exchange for four incandescent ones. Families that have already participated will also receive an additional four light bulbs. (The World Bank 8/1/2012)

Regional

The controversial Belo Monte dam was halted this week when a judge ruled that the $11 billion project’s proponents had not adequately consulted with the affected indigenous communities. Planned to be built in the heart of the Amazon, Belo Monte would have an installed capacity of 11,000 MW and would be the third largest dam in the world. It would also displace an estimated 40,000 indigenous people, and has attracted worldwide attention. The judge said that if the indigenous communities were consulted, the projects permits could be re-granted. (Al Jazeera 8/15/2012, Ministério Público Federal no Pará 8/15/2012)

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde de NRDC

Chile

The planned $8 billion capital increase by Chilean energy holding company, Enersis, has created new uncertainty about the HidroAysén dam project.  Many Chileans are accusing Enersis and Endesa Spain of trying to seize the pension funds of Chileans to solve the economic problems in their parent countries. As shares in the project lose value, contributors have lost $300 million and 64 percent of citizens now oppose the project. Depending on the government’s decision regarding the proposed “electric highway,” it is speculated that the cost of the project will increase (Future Renovable 8/2/2012).

The explosion of unconventional gas in North America is attracting the attention of the Chilean government. In a conference organized by Chile’s Secretary of State and the U.S. State Department titled, “Regulations for the development of unconventional gas and environmental standards between the United States and Latin America,” the countries discussed the need for collaboration in order to exchange information about new technologies and regulatory practices.  Chile’s Energy Minister  Jorge Busnter said that energy independence is a main priority for Chile and for this reason, the country will begin exploration for hydrocarbons in various domestic basins (Electricidad 8/1/2012).

Chilean engineering and construction firm Besalco is working on 11 hydroelectric projects that total 156 megawatts (MW). The projects are in different stages from basic engineering to construction with the first project, Los Hierros, due online in the second quarter next year. Los Hierros is a 19.9MW run-of-the-river project in southern region VII that will use water from the Melado irrigation channel and supply the central SIC grid.  A $16 million, 5.1MW second phase for Hierros is under review by the government’s environmental evaluation service (Business News Americas 8/8/2012).

The Chilean geothermal company, Geotérmica del Norte (GDN), resubmitted the transmission component of the planned 50MW Cerro Pabellón geothermal complex in northern region II to Chile’s environmental evaluation service (SEA).  Earlier this year, SEA approved GDN’s environmental impact assessment for the $180 million geothermal complex planned for the area of Pampa Apacheta, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2015. The $20 million, 18-month transmission project includes a 73 kilometer line and substation, which will connect to the northern SING grid (Business News Americas 8/6/2012).

On August 7, President Sebastián Piñera declared ten districts in the Coquimbo Region “disaster zones” due to serious droughts. Currently, 108 districts across Chile are marked as areas of agricultural emergency due to the drought situation. According to Philip Martin, Secretary General of the National Irrigation Commission, Chile has had a water deficit for the last three years. Martin says that this is a climate condition to which the country will have to adapt by modifying its practices and infrastructure. In order to improve conditions and prepare for the summer season, the country increased its budget from $29 billion pesos to $41 billion. While there will be enough water for human consumption, farmers who rely on heavy rainfall will suffer (Future Renovable 8/7/2012).

Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Oil Refinery, RECOPE, is developing three projects to reduce the country’s oil dependence. The projects include developing biofuels, hydrogen for transportation, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) mixtures.  While an experimental biofuel plant was constructed in 2009, the pilot facility has yet to be built. The company is testing different combinations of fuels to evaluate how different fuel blends affect performance, emissions, and efficiency. For the hydrogen project, the goal is to design and implement an experimental system for the production, compression and storage of hydrogen gas. The results will help introduce this fuel into the public transportation system, which currently accounts for over half of the country’s petroleum use (El Financiero 8/10/2012).

The Supreme Court has suspended a mega project in Guanacaste due to alleged environmental damage. Construction on the project, Los Catalinas, was stopped Thursday by an order from the court, which accepted an appeal for review and issued an injunction. The project aims to build a resort development with 2,500 villas on the border between Santa Cruz and Carrillo.  The appeal was filed by two local residents who presented documents proving that buildings already in operation were exploiting water wells without permission and potentially affecting coastal aquifers. They also claim that the tree cutting permits issued to the project were acquired illegally (El Financiero 8/3/2012).

The international produce certification, LSQA, was awarded to the Costa Rican pineapple company, Ganaflor, indicating that its operation is carbon neutral, making it the first pineapple company in the country with this achievement. The certificate was also approved by the International Carbon Neutral Company. This award is especially relevant for an industry that was characterized as being high-polluting and is now in the process of improving its environmental practices. According to the CEO, the company changed its habits and work culture to reduce CO2 generation and also gained carbon offsets by investing in green projects abroad (El Financiero 8/7/2012).

While environmental advocates have applauded Costa Rica’s forest conservation initiatives, the country has struggled to protect its marine resources. In an effort to improve the country’s “blue agenda,” President Laura Chinchilla’s administration took a major step forward by announcing a series of measures aimed at strengthening Costa Rica’s marine protection. On July 17, Chinchilla signed executive decrees that created a cabinet-level National Marine Commission to coordinate marine conservation policy, a new Waters and Oceans Vice Ministry under the current Environment Ministry, and an Oceanic Navigation Bill that would establish an updated regulatory framework for patrolling and enforcing environmental laws at sea. While many view the Commission as a positive step, there is concern about when, exactly, the commission will start its work. The fate of this Commission and Costa Rica’s future marine conservation policies will depend on whether the president decides to put the group into action (Tico Times 8/10/2012).

Mexico

In order to raise awareness about the importance of Baja California to conservation efforts and the significance of its forest areas, the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, launched the Environmental Education Center in San Pedro Martir National Park. He noted that the government has invested over $23 billion pesos in the region over the last two years to support biodiversity conservation. Among the programs that Quesada developed jointly with the government of Baja California was a $7 billion peso initiative to reintroduce the pronghorn antelope to the area, which disappeared from the territory over 100 years ago (Semarnat 8/9/2012).

Mexico’s first solar-powered wastewater treatment plant in Nogales, Sonora, will provide a precedent for water utilities looking to reduce costs for wastewater treatment said María Elena Giner, General Manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. Water utilities are the biggest electricity consumers in a municipality and electricity is also the second biggest drain on a utility’s resources. For this reason, a tender for construction of the 902KW photovoltaic plant is currently underway and is expected to be awarded in August or September this year. Construction of the solar plant is programmed to wrap in May 2013, providing an output that will cover 100 percent of the electricity required for the Los Alisos wastewater treatment plant. According to Giner, this is not only an important renewable energy project, but it is important for the development of a national public policy for the use of renewable energy within water utilities (Business News Americas 8/3/2012).

The Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, and U.S. EPA Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, signed the 2020 Border Program  to continue environmental cooperation between Mexico and the United States for the benefit of the inhabitants near the border of both countries. In her speech, Jackson acknowledged the improved environmental conditions created by the 2012 Border Program, which led 140 improvement projects, and expressed enthusiasm for the new program as well as further collaboration (Semarnat 8/8/2012).

Regional

The French multinational electric company, GDF Suez, announced that it is targeting the 70GW of potential new capacity needed in Latin America by 2020. The company boasts 11.8GW generation capacity in the region with another 5.17GW under construction (4.14GW in Brazil, 942MW in Peru, 59MW in Panama and 34MW in Chile) and another 9.2GW in early development. Currently, hydropower accounts for 62 percent of the 11.8GW, coal 18 percent, natural gas 12 percent, wind 1 percent and other renewables 8 percent (Business News Americas 8/3/2012).

This week’s news was compiled by Emily Jovais.

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.

By Amanda Maxwell, La Onda Verde

Chile

While non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) currently accounts for 3 percent of Chile’s electricity, there is a portfolio of new NCRE initiatives that would generate 8,749 megawatts of energy, three times the amount of the proposed HidroAysén project. There are 140 projects in the environmental assessment process that represent over US$22 billion in investment.  Such projects include the recently completed 90 megawatt, Valle de Los Vientos, wind farm in Loa province of northern region II.  Renewable generation injected into both grids increased 27 percent in June compared to May and by 173 percent compared to the same time last year. (Future Renewable 7/23/2012, Business News Americas 7/20/2012)

The chief operating officer of HidroAysén, Michel Moure, who was in charge of interacting with the community and presenting the design for the transmission line, announced his resignation after two years with the company. In this role, Moure sought to enhance work with local communities and organizations and strengthen HidroAysén’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments. The company has not made an official statementabout his resignation nor spoken about why he decided to leave the position. (La Tercera 7/26/2012)

The state-owned mining company, Codelco, announced a call for bids to purchase non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) credits required for its operations. The decision is an effort to comply with a new law, which requires energy generators to supply a percentage of their energy with renewable sources.  Although the law applies to utilities, the corporation has chosen to bid directly to purchase NCRE, believing that this is the best way to comply with the law because the company can ensure that it is complying with the percentage standard at competitive prices. (Diario Financiero 7/27/2012)

On July 24, the city of Osorno in southern Chile was declared a “saturated zone” due to the high level of fine particulate matter in the air as a result of burning wet wood.  This declaration is just the first step to reduce the current high levels of air pollution in Osorno. One of the first measures to decontaminate the city is to replace old heaters with dual-chamber heaters, which have higher heat efficiency and emit fewer pollutants into the air. The pilot program will give out 403 new heaters in two stages. Other efforts will include resources to enhance wood drying, improved home insulation, and efforts to encourage households to use dry wood only. (Soy Chile – Soy Osorno 7/23/2012)

Costa Rica

In an effort to achieve the country’s goal of becoming carbon neutral, Costa Rica has allied with Costa Rican physics company, Franklin Chang, as well as experts from Earth University to promote research efforts in new technologies and alternative energy sources.  The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (Minaet) is also part of the partnership, which will combine efforts and skills to meet the carbon neutral target. The four institutions will make available facilities, equipment, technicians, professionals, and teachers to support the research projects. Currently, 70 percent of carbon emissions in the country come from the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles, and an additional 12 percent comes from the production of electricity. (La Nacion 7/25/2012)

According to the Spanish company, Gas Natural Fenosa, construction of the 50 megawatt Torito hydropower plant is underway.  In 2008, the state electricity utility, ICE, awarded the group the construction and operation of the plant for 20 years. The project is located in the northeast of Costa Rica and will use water from the Reventazón River. It is scheduled to be operational in 2014. (Business News Americas 7/24/2012)

In an effort to reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes that may carry Dengue, Salud and the Holcim cement company have announced a joint campaign to collect and properly dispose of old tires. Large piles of tires have the potential to contain pools of water or be burned, which releases highly toxic fumes. Holcim will collect scrap tires and use them for fuel to make cement. (Inside Costa Rica 7/22/2012)

Mexico

Demex has completed construction of the 90MW Piedra Larga wind farm in Mexico’s Oaxaca state. The wind farm has been connected to the national grid via a substation and is undergoing testing. Despite slight delays due to weather and issues with land holdings, it will be fully operational by October. The farm’s lifespan is between 25 and 30 years and the total cost of the project was approximately US$200 million. Demex is a fully owned local subsidiary of Spanish company Renovalia Energy, which is planning a second 138MW phase of the project. (Business News Americas 7/25/2012)

With the implementation of the second stage of the Sustainable Light Program, President Felipe Calderon was recognized by Guinness World Records for replacing 29.9 million light bulbs with new energy efficient bulbs. See pictures from the event here (SEMARNAT 7/26/2012). 

At an event this week, the head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, said that the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) will emphasize the protection of natural resources and systematically address environmental issues with the help of a solid and well-defined political environment. Profepa will be tasked with assessing the country’s natural resources and be required to lead controlling and monitoring efforts. This year, Profepa led operations to combat illegal logging and illegal wildlife trafficking in 32 states. (SEMARNAT 7/23/2012)

This week’s news was compiled by Emily Jovais.

This article was first published in NRDC Switchboard.