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! :)
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| 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 I also did some investigation through google maps to see any rooftop arrays, but the most recent photos are outdated and do not accurately reflect what is potentially there today.
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| (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!
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| Beaufiful beaches and peaceful scenery make Cabo a great travel destination |
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| The beautiful Arch of Cortez, A highlight marker of Cabo San Lucas |
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| My family (sister, Carolyn, and mother, Shari) and I enjoying a walk around the harbor of downtown Cabo San Lucas |
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