by Mario E. Juarez and Hernando Becerra, with Ritch Muller, S.C. in Mexico City
Mexico has taken the first step toward providing incentives to use renewable energy.
The Mexican House of Representatives (Cámara de Diputados) passed a "Law for the Use of Renewable Energy Sources" (Ley para el Aprovechamiento de Fuentes Renovables de Energía) in December, and the measure has now been sent to the Mexican Senate for its review and approval. Many believe that the law will be enacted this year.
Mexico has effectively committed, by ratifying the Kyoto protocol, to use more renewable energy as a source of electricity.
The installed generating capacity worldwide from renewables is 50,000 megawatts. Mexican installed capacity from renewables is just two and three megawatts. This leaves enormous room for growth. The Mexican Ministry of Energy estimates that there is potential to generate approximately 5,000 megawatts from wind power, 1,000 megawatts from biomass and 150 megawatts from biogas
