The Sunnier Side of Solar: Visit to Cabo San Lucas

January 30th, 2013


I recently returned from a family vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and I could think of no better opportunity to talk about foreign investment in solar than discuss my trip! I will warn you there, there is a ton of relaxing, sun soaking, delicious food, and entertainment! So sit back and enjoy! :)

The Baja Region of California receives nearly 5 peak sun hours per day (above top), making it an ideal region for taking advantage of solar. Not to mention the beautiful weather with few clouds to hinder solar output (above bottom)

My journey began early Wednesday morning, on January 16th, with a 5:20am flight to Philadelphia to meet my sister for our connection to Phoenix, and then San Jose Del Cabo. Unfortunately, bad weather slowed our departure, and after a long day of flying to Philly, Charlotte, then Ft. Lauderdale, we finally reach Phoenix only to be too late to make any Cabo flights, so we lost a day. But we weren't about to let it hinder our spirits. By mid afternoon the next day, we were already relaxing on the beach in Cabo!



Mexico currently leads Latin American nations in solar output, with a total capacity of 37MW as of 2011. Although this number is relatively small compared to the US, it does show that our neighbor to the south is proactively involved in renewable energy for their country. As I toured both towns of the cape (San Jose, and San Lucas) I made sure to keep my eyes peeled for any sign of renewable energy. Cabo has exploded over the past 10 years, almost exclusively due to the tourist industry, and the large resorts and hotels should be an example of clean energy in the region and invest in solar to subsidize their electricity usage, hot water for the swimming pools, washing linens, and open building designs to maximize sunlight during the day. Many of the beach side resorts already are built with an open feel in mind, but I was hoping to see more solar installed on buildings. While out in the bay of Cabo visiting the Arch of Cortez, I scanned the harbor and saw only one hotel that clearly had solar on their rooftops, Casa Dorado Resort and Spa Cabo San Lucas. That doesn't mean there aren't several other hotels that have invested in renewable energy, but in downtown Cabo, this was the only one visible from the water. I also did some investigation through google maps to see any rooftop arrays, but the most recent photos are outdated and do not accurately reflect what is potentially there today.

(Above Top and Bottom) Solar hot water collectors on the rooftop of Casa Dorado Resort and Spa, Cabo San Lucas

I also spoke with the manager of the Grand Mayan Resort and Spa, in San Jose Del Cabo, to inquire about their renewable energy goals, as I had heard that they receive 30% of their electricity needs from renewable sources. They informed me that while that may be the case at some of the other Grand Mayan Resort locations, they did not currently meet this goal in San Jose. He did, however, mention that they do have a very strong recycling program to reduce waste. This is a great start, and I hope they continue to push for more green alternatives!


Needless to say, I had a wonderful time, but I was happy to be back home in North Carolina, despite the cold weather (it was 80 and sunny every day of my vacation).  I hope that if I do visit there again, I will see a much higher capacity of solar installed in the region. With so many of the large resorts being US-based, it is important that in business we represent a strong example of environmental responsibility to other countries. Investing in solar is EXACTLY the way we can do this! Stay warm everyone!

Beaufiful beaches and peaceful scenery make Cabo a great travel destination

The beautiful Arch of Cortez, A highlight marker of Cabo San Lucas

My family (sister, Carolyn, and mother, Shari) and I enjoying a walk around the harbor of downtown Cabo San Lucas

Farm Risk Management Through Renewable Energy

January 11th, 2013


Farm Development Now (http://www.farmdevnow.com/welcome.html) presented 'Risk Management Through Renewable Energy and Crop Insurance' today at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, drawing a crowd of approximately 300 farmers, particularly African American and Native American farmers to participate in workshops for renewable energy, crop insurance, and farm financing. Several exhibitors were present to assist farmers, including NC Solar Now, Yes! Solar Solutions, Future Farmers of America, and several farm loan and financing agencies. The worskhop was free to attend.

The opening welcome session was chaired by Dr. Mark Little, Acting Program Director, Economic Development at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Anthony Locklear, Executive Director of Native American Interfaith Ministries, and Rosalind Gray, Esq. Founder of the Sun Farmers Institute, also gave opening speeches. The room was then divided into groups and attended workshops for Renewable Energy Projects on the Farm, and Farm Loans and Crop Insurance. I attended both, but for the purposes of this blog will discuss only the Renewable Energy Workshop. 

NCSEA Director Paul Quinlan Addressing the Farmers at Todays Solar Workshop.

The Renewable Energy Workshop was presented by Dr. Reginald Parker, CEO and Founder of 510nano, a minority owned green solar development firm, and Time Webb, CFO of 510nano. The aim of the talk was to educate rural farmers of alternative methods of producing income through renewable energy use. Over the past few years solar farms have been experience an economic boom in North Carolina, thanks to the state's generous renewable energy tax credit program, and several farmers throughout the state have been able to reap the benefits of it, coming as much needed relief during past droughts, poor farming techniques, and the decline in demand of the tobacco crop. The basics of several renewable systems were presented, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass, and helpful and insightful ideas on how to monetize resources to create a stable income. At the end of the talk there was a Q&A session where attendees could ask several questions, some of the most common concerns were the profitability of solar farms, how to interconnect electricity to the grid, and how to obtain proper financing to build proper solar infrastructure onto their land.

A free luncheon was provided during the event for all attendees.

The day concluded with some last remarks by representatives from local finance companies, Melissa Malkin-Weber, Self Help Credit Union, Rick Larson, Natural Capital Invesment Fund, David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, and closing remarks by Rosalind Gray, Sun Farmers Institute The workshop plans to meet again in April to provide more assistance for renewable energy for farms and further educate farmers in North Carolina.