APS/Mexican utility move to install "mini-grid" electric system in Mexico.PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 1996--Arizona Public Service, the state's largest energy provider, is moving ahead with plans to help create a "mini-grid" electric system in Mexico. APS and Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :NMK NMK National Museums of Kenya NMK Natural Multimedia Keyboard NMK Network Management Knowledge ) of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of will contribute $250,000 toward the system. Recently, the Tri-National Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC (Central Electronic Complex) The set of hardware that defines a mainframe, which includes the CPU(s), memory, channels, controllers and power supplies included in the box. Some CECs, such as IBM's Multiprise 2000 and 3000, include data storage devices as well. ) awarded APS another $25,000 to move ahead with plans to establish a "mini-grid," system in the remote fishing village of San Juanico, Baja California Sur Baja California Sur (s  r), state (1990 pop. 317,764), 27,571 sq mi (71,428 sq km), NW Mexico, on the Baja California peninsula. La Paz is the capital. . "Mini-grid" refers to an electric system that operates within a limited area. The CEC was created under the North American Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), accord establishing a free-trade zone in North America; it was signed in 1992 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. between the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Mexico and Canada. The APS project, created in partnership with the Comision Federal De Electricidad (CFE CFE Conventional Forces in Europe (treaty) CFE Cash Flow to Equity (finance/accounting) CFE Comisión Federal de Electricidad (México) CFE Certified Fraud Examiner ), Mexico's national electric utility, was one of two energy projects selected by CEC for funding (see accompanying news release). The "hybrid" energy project will generate more reliable, less expensive electric power with wind and solar energy resources, and will augment the existing diesel-based generation in San Juanico. The high cost of fuel coupled with depressed economic conditions allow the 500 San Juanico villagers to use electricity only three to four hours a day. The new system will be available 24-hours a day. "We are excited about moving ahead with this project and being selected for funding," said Ed Fox, APS vice president of environmental, health, safety and technology development. "This signifies to us, and hopefully to others, that an environmental approach to helping meet electrical needs is important," he said. "Our project goal with CFE is to assist rural areas in Mexico achieve a sustainable economy and environment as it moves to electrify e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. more remote areas. This effort is much more than just marketing technology," said Fox. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an APS goal carved out of its partnership with the US Department of Energy's Climate Challenge Program. APS expects to receive credits for greenhouse gas reductions from this project. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. will partially fund the project under its 1994 Interpollutant Trade Agreement with APS, which also contains greenhouse gas reduction goals to minimize their contributions to global warming. "We hope to leverage the practical knowledge we gain from these partnerships, and this project in Mexico to benefit the rural areas of the Southwest as well. Ultimately, we hope to benefit the global environment," said Fox. Recently, Dr. C.V. Mathai, principal scientist at APS, was invited to present details of the mini-grid project at an international forum organized by NAFTA's CEC in Mexico City. There, CEC announced its intent to fund the APS/CFE mini-grid project in Baja. "A key element of the project is to establish an operational plan and billing structure to enable the mini-utility to operate as a sustainable business that contributes to the village's social and economic development. It is anticipated that representatives of the village will own and operate the hybrid system," said Mathai. APS and CFE, Mexico's national utility, have worked in partnership for almost six years. The partnership has resulted in two emergency, low voltage interconnects between the Mexican and APS transmission systems along the Arizona-Mexico border. APS and Mexican utility officials have enhanced their working relationships by information and resource sharing on a number of energy-related topics. Additional funding for the mini-grid project is expected from the United States Agency for International Development The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the U.S. government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. An independent federal agency, it receives overall foreign policy guidance from the U.S. in Mexico City and others by early fall. Installation of the system is scheduled by early 1997. The total estimated project cost is about $1 million. In part, the grant money will be used to ascertain what combination of wind and solar resources can be most beneficial in San Juanico. APS and Mexican representatives have been working on the project for six months, and both are looking to duplicate the San Juanico model at another site in Sonora, Mexico. Dr. Peter Johnston, manager of technology development at APS, is heading up the mini-grid project. CONTACT: Arizona Public Service Arizona Public Service Company is the largest electric utility in Arizona and the principal subsidiary of publicly-traded S&P 500 member Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW), which in turn had been formerly named AZP Group Co., Phoenix Maria Arellano, 602/250-2269 |
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