1. Addressing Issues in the Energy-Water Nexus in the Baja California/California Region
Introduction Findings
Next Steps
Challenges
Acknowledgements
My sincere appreciation goes out to the
Stanford Undergraduate Program in Energy
Research (SUPER), especially Rob Jackson and
Emily Hung who were instrumental in
creatings such a rewarding experience. I
would also like to thank the Bill Lane Center
for the American West and the Water in the
West departments for providing my summer
project, especially Bruce Cain and Newsha
Ajami.
The 1983 La Paz Agreement was signed as a
historic gesture toward international
environmental intervention between
Mexico and the United States. It is a
framework that has committed these two
nations into reviewing the environmental
and health concerns apparent in the border
region.
Mexico and the United States have long
since identified the need for binational
cooperation in order to tackle the
challenges that arise along the border. With
the unprecedented increase in population
along the border, it was clear that the two
nations would need to create steady
bilateral solutions to the growing scarcity of
resources along the border.
Alex Paramo
Stanford University
Information in regards to energy and water
usage is decentralized within the United
States, which means that the states are left
to deal with these issues. In Mexico, these
issues are handled by the federal
government, which proves to be an
impressive barrier in terms of gathering
information.
The power generation efforts along the
border have been heavily inclined towards
the installation of renewable electric power.
The state of Baja California Norte has
enough wind and solar potential to meet
the rising power demands, however
transmission and capital investment are still
the primary barriers to making electric
power independence a reality.
Binational initiatives have promoted the
investment in projects that have provided
first time access to water treatment and
sewage services.
Identifying how new decentralization
legislation in Mexico will affect investment
in the energy sector.
Measuring the impact of binational
agencies and cooperation.
Analyzing the socio-economic impact of
future energy and water markets.