• FUEL OIL: Mexico’s state-owned utility (CFE) is preparing the purchase of a second-hand floating oil-fired plant -worth USD 400 million- to provide electricity to the city of La Paz in the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, according to company documents.
• BARGE: Currently anchored in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, the floating barge power plant would rely on heavy fuel oil and would be much more expensive than wind and solar energy options presented by local clean energy groups.
• POLLUTING: “(The floating power plant) will be very expensive and polluting. There are other options, such as renewable energy accompanied by storage. Moreover, this is a temporary solution because it cannot be operating for several months”, Víctor Ramírez, electric sector expert.
• OPPOSITION: Given persistent air pollution in the bay, the mayor of La Paz municipality (pop. 272,000) has made clear his opposition to a new heavy fuel oil power plant. Moreover, the Governor of Baja California Sur state has said he would prefer one fueled by natural gas.
