Massachusetts Partners With Mexico on Solar Project

Solar_Panels

Massachusetts is partnering with Mexico for a solar project in Mexico – ZacSol, a 30-megawatt solar electric project that will be among the largest of its kind in Latin America. The project is being done through the work of The Vertex Companies, Inc., Panel Claw and Solectria, and two Mexican partners, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Zacatecana and Grupos Domos.

The project is one leg of the Massachusetts – Mexico Innovation Partnership Mission which aims to build economic and trade relationships between the Commonwealth and Mexico. In 2013, Mexico was Massachusetts’ third ranked import partner, with Massachusetts importing approximately $3.37 billion worth of goods and services. Mexico was Massachusetts’ third ranked export partner, with Massachusetts exporting approximately $1.86 billion worth of goods and services.

After the final approval for the project, the Federal Electricity Commission of Mexico will purchase the electricity generated by the system, which will be one of the 10 largest in Latin America. Solar energy is a big focus area for both governments, Massachusetts already powers tens of thousands of residential homes with solar and Mexico is looking to build out its own solar grid.

The VERTEX Companies, Inc., of Weymouth, is leading the environmental permitting and construction management of the project, while North Andover-based Panel Claw is slated to supply the ground-mounting system and Lawrence-based Solectria Renewables the solar inverters. The Mexican partners for the project include Constructora e Inmobiliaria Zacatecana and Grupos Domos.

“Today’s announcement is further proof that Massachusetts’ solar industry is booming and growing beyond our region,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia.