Abstract

A cooperative Mexico-USA program in renewable energies was formed between Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAP). Facilities in ten remote Natural Protected Areas (NPAS) in southern Mexico were powered by renewable energy technologies. The goal was to demonstrate that renewable energy technologies are a valuable tool for meeting the power requirements of conservation, research and education activities. This joint effort has produced important results, and awareness is growing regarding the benefits of renewable energy technology for protecting the environment, and at the same time improving the quality of life for researchers and communities. The Mexican state of Quintana Roo has the majority of NPAs in Mexico; most are coastal marine. The Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve (BCHBR) is an extension of SNL's program, since the BCHBR administration acquired a wind system to power its facilities. We describe projects and lessons learned in five coastal marine NPAs in Quintana Roo. Renewable energy both encouraged economic growth and raised the quality of life within the communities in NPAs, thus aiding regional sustainable development and reducing the impact on natural resources.

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