U.S. Considers Funding Various Mexican Energy Projects

The U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) is weighing whether it should help finance a trio of energy projects in Mexico; however, prior to making those decisions, the agency will award consulting contracts to U.S. vendors to assess the viability of those respective endeavors.

The first initiative is titled the “Zacatecas Wind Power Project Feasibility Study,” whose stated objective is to:

enable the development of a 70 MW wind power generation project in the Municipality of Zacatecas. The Feasibility Study will allow the Grantee to assess available wind power resources, verify the power demand profile, evaluate the financial value of wind power in comparison to existing power supply arrangements, and draft legal documents and agreements.

A $501,000 USTDA-funded grant will be used to pay the selected contractor on behalf of the municipal government of Zacatecas. (Solicitation #2011-51023A)

Separately, USTDA is seeking a contractor to perform the Zacatecas Landfill Gas Pilot Project Feasibility Study, whose goal is to:

enable the development of a 3 MW landfill gas collection and power generation pilot project in the Municipality of Zacatecas. The Feasibility Study will allow the Grantee to assess recoverable landfill gas resources, conduct a preliminary conceptual design, and draft legal documents and agreements.

The municipal government of Zacatecas likewise will reap the benefits of a USTDA-funded grant, in this case via a $278,000 payment to a selected contractor. (Solicitation #2011-51022A).

The third Mexican project that USTDA unveiled is the Baja California Wind Power Project Feasibility Study, whose stated objective is to:

enable the supply of 100 MW of wind power to state government office buildings and facilities in the State of Baja California in Mexico. The Feasibility Study will allow the Grantee to assess available wind power resources, verify the power demand profile, evaluate the financial value of wind power in comparison to existing power supply arrangements, and draft legal documents and agreements.

The firm selected will be paid via a $374,000 USTDA grant on behalf of the state government of Baja California, Mexico, in conjunction with that government’s State Energy Commission. (Solicitation #2011-51021A).