Mexican leader, US climate envoy plan next solar plants meeting (updated)

Alchimie SA

27/03/2023 18:36

(Adds quote, details about solar plan)
       MEXICO CITY, March 27 (Reuters) - Mexican President
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will meet with U.S. President Joe
Biden's climate envoy in two months to discuss plans to install
more solar plants in northern Sonora state, the Mexican leader
said Monday, as a major renewable energy park there nears
completion.
        The 
    Puerto Penasco
     solar plant in the sprawling border state, which boasts
some of the highest temperatures in the country, is set to go
online in April as part of the president's flagship solar push,
which officials have said could boast five additional plants.
  
        Lopez Obrador told reporters at a news conference that
he discussed his plans to build several more plants like Penasco
with U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry during his visit to Mexico
this month.
  
        "Talks are advancing to replicate the Penasco plant to
other places in Senora, a minimum of three more plants," said
Lopez Obrador. 
        "We agreed to another meeting in two months," he said.
"They are going to look to help us in case it requires
investment, and to ensure the interest rates will be as low as
possible."
  
        In December, Lopez Obrador said the United States was
offering to help 
    Mexico with loans to finance
     solar power stations in Sonora to boost clean energy
supplies.
  
        On Monday, the president said he and Kerry discussed a
possible $5 billion investment in the project known as "Plan
Sonora". He gave no details on whether it would involve a loan
or include U.S government funds.    
  
        Mexican officials, aiming to double renewable power
capacity by 2030, have said the country must invest $48 billion
to meet its goal.
  
        The president has said national power company CFE should
run the plants. The Mexican government has been at odds with the
United States and Canada over electricity policy because of
Lopez Obrador's drive to give more control over energy to
cash-strapped state energy companies.
  

 (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Isabel Woodford and
David Gregorio)
 ((Valentine.Hilaire@thomsonreuters.com;))