Mexico Grids Affirmative - SDI 2013

7/27/2019 Mexico Grids Affirmative - SDI 2013

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SDI 2013 MEXICO GRIDS AFF


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*** SOLVENCY


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Plan

The United States federal government should increase investment aimed to develop

cross-border and interconnected grid, transmission, and distribution infrastructure in

Mexico.


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Solvency 1AC

Solvency

Absent US expertise about grid construction, Mexico renewable energy and trading

fails

Esenaro 6-11 (Albert, Federally Licensed Lawyer in Mexico, Legal Specialist on Telecom, Energy,International Business, and IT in Mexican Law, Mexico Energy Gri Construction Provides Opportunityfor Foreign Companies, J Supra Law News, 2013, http://www.jsupra.com/legalnews/mexico-energy-grid-construction-provides-42394/)

While Mexico has long been an energy producer thanks to its plentiful oil reserves, foreign investment in its

energy market has been rather difficult due to the fact that the oil industry was nationalized and is

now under the thumb of PEMEX, the Mexican oil monopoly. At first glance, this might mean that when private

investors from abroad seethat theres going to be some energy grid construction in Mexico, they might not get too

excited. However, theres a very goo reason why foreign companies should get excited about this planned energy

grid construction thats happening in the country south of the Unite States: this energy grid will be powered by solar

resources, not fossil fuels. The solar market in Mexico is located on cheap land thats right in the

middle of the southern sun-belt in the desert states of Chihuahua and Sonora ; furthermore, the area receives so

much sun that some experts are saying that a small patch of land (25 square kilometers) will provide sufficient

solar power to supply all of Mexicos electricity needs. Because legislation has been passe in Mexicos government toreduce carbon emissions by 30% in the next seven years, companies have been switching over to renewable energy resources. Natural gas in

Mexico is in limite supply, so theres been a big push to evelop solar power. But what does this mean for foreign companies? Well, first of all,

Mexico is planning on making the grid far bigger than it needs to be to meet present demand so that

surplus energy produced can be exported to the United States. The U.S. has been described as a

guzzler of electricity, an uring U.S. presient Obamas recent visit to Mexico City, the American hea of state spoke of energy

partnerships between the two neighbors. This means that companies that specialize in cross-border transportinfrastructure will have a lucrative market exporting energy from the solar fields in Mexico to the United

States. Furthermore, PEMEX oesnt control renewables, an there is only one utility to eal with, the CFE (Comisin Feeral e Electricidad).

This means that independent companies that produce solar power can set up shop in Mexico and start

contributing towards the grid. This might sound easy, but already there have been several investors

who have been unsuccessful with their solar companies in Mexico: although the land is cheap and sun is plentiful, the country

doesnt have the solar infrastructure or know-how just yet and solar producers are more or less on

their own to learn the ropes . Some, unfortunately, have gone in with a profound lack of knowledge and

have used obsolete solar panel technology . Youve got to bring your own support when you come to this country, there

is nobody here that knows solar, there is nobody here that knows wind , sai John Skibinski, CEO of Global

Renewables Group, which has a subsiiary in Mexico.Its ne

w to the country and

it requires training, development as wellas pilot installations. Weve one that for the utilities, the banks an the government weve shown with pilot installations how we canreduce GHG emissions. They are highly interested in new technologythey ont want solar panels that are 15 years ol, 100W panels not

going to cut it an they are alreay looking at 115W.I have seen 50 independent power producers apply for power

plant generation two of them got approved, he sai.The other 48 were on the wrong place on the

grid. Youve got to do your homework when you want to put in an installation into Mexico. A utility

will deny your application if it doesnt fit their needs, they are very goo at what they o in terms of their gri. As seen in

the remarks above, companies that know what theyre doing will have plenty of opportunities: foreign


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specialists in solar power can build power plants, and they can also train, consult, and share

knowledge with local Mexican firms.

New transmission infrastructure is key to energy trading and renewable development

Wood et al 12 (Duncan, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center

for Scholars, Samantha Medecigo, Department of International Affairs Instituto Tecnolgico Autnomode Mxico, Sergio Romero-Hernandez, Haas School of BusinessUC Berkeley, Win Energy Potential inMexicos Northern Borer States, Woorow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Mexico Institute),May, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Border_Wind_Energy_Wood.pdf)

Transmission: the Crucial Element

Around the world, the development of the wind energy sector has depended on the availability and close

proximity of transmission lines. Unlike conventional sources of generating electricity, which can be located close to population

centers and existing transmission lines, wind (as well as solar and geothermal) plants must have transmission lines built

to allow them to get their electrons to market. Surveys ofwind producers around the world have shown that

development ishindered more by transmission challenges than any other single factor . In Mexico this

problem is made more severe by the fact that the CFE has a constitutional monopoly over transmission and therefore there are noother outlets for wind Independent Power Producers (IPPs) if CFE refuses to provide capacity. Moreover, CFE is prohibited from using public

funds to build new transmission capacity if the energy generators cannot prove that they are willing and ready to pay for the electrictity

transmission service. On the other hand, many electricity generators who want to build plants cannot get the

financing they need unless they can prove that transmission capacity will exist by the time they come online. In the case of Oaxaca, this

problem hasbeen resolved through close cooperation between IPPs, the CFE and the CRE, which have developed aneffective method of estimating future transmission demand through the use of open seasons. In an open season system, a period of time is

determined (often one year) during which electricity companies can indicate their intention to build new plants and their need for transmission

capacity. At the end of this time, the transmission authority (in this case the CFE) uses the results to justify its investment in constructing new

lines. For the state of Baja California, thisproblem is made even more acute because there is no interconnection

between the state and the national grid, making export of electricity to private consumers in other

states impossible at the present time. Mexicos national grid is in fact threegrids, with Baja California Norte and

Baja California Sur each having their own independent system. A further level of difficulty is found with cross-border

transmission . A quick survey of the above map shows that there areonly a limited number of interconnectionsacross the border. Furthermore, only 5 of these connections are bi-directional. In Baja California, the Miguel-Tijuana and theImperial Valley-Rosarita interconnections (both 230kV AC) have a combined capacity of 800 MW, in Coahuila the Eagle PassPiedras Negras

interconnection (138kV HVDC) has a capacity of only 38 MW, and in Tamaulipas the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo (138kV VFT) and McAllen-Reynosa

(138kV HVDC) interconnections have a combined capacity of 250 MW. These interconnections are maxedout and

therefore cannot be considered for future cross-border electricity trade. In addition to these lines operated by CFE,there are two privately owned transmission lines of 310 MW (owned by Intergen) and 1200 MW (owned by Sempra). The problem of cross-

border transmission has been identified in a number of previous reports on wind and renewable energy in Mexico,5 and in 2010 the two

countries set up a task-force to address the issue.6 Although this group has met a number of times, there appears to be little momentum

behind the initiative, with each side blaming the other for lack of progress.


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Solvency Expertise key

US expertise is key to smarts grids solves renewable development

Bennett 11(Nicholas, Smart Gri Technology Mexicos Upcoming Market Boon, University of

Arizona,http://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/fina

lnicholasbennett.pdf)

Smart grids are a relatively new innovation in the field ofelectrical engineering and design; their primary

function is to both improve and expedite the flow of electricity between multiple networks and power

generators. This work is facilitated by installing smart meters, which monitor and relay electrical information to their respective systems. The

primary aim of a smart grid is to make energy more reliable, lower aggregate energy consumption, and

actively correlate with renewable energy resources such as solar and wind energy. Smart grids arerevolutionizing the way we use and receive power, and the rising smart grid market presents a historic opportunity for economic growth.

Mexicos projections in the smart gri market are strikingly positive, with the market projecte to reach $8.3 billion by 2020. Like many Latin

American countries, Mexicos problems with power outages, electrical theft, and poor energy infrastructure

present an advantageous climate for change. Therefore, Mexico is poised to make staggeringimprovements within the coming decade by reducing these issues while boosting their economy. According to theNortheast Group, LLC, Mexicos smart meter market alone will contribute $5.1 billion in the overall smart gri market value by 2020. With thecurrent GDP of Mexico at approximately $874.81 billion, the field of smart grids could increase the Mexican GDP by approximately 1%, a

considerable addition for a single market in just one decade. Many project the market to continue climbing, especially

with the aid of U.S. expertise and vendors seeking new markets. The U.S.-Mexico Bilateral on Clean Energy and

Climate Change, enacted by President Obama in April, 2009, brings mutually beneficial smart grid technology to both the United States and

Mexico through joint cooperation and 3 information exchange. Smart grid technology provides an unprecedented

opportunity for Mexico to improve both functionally and economically.

Mexicos inexperienced with renewable US experience is key to effectiveness

Bennett 11 (Nicholas, Regional Sales RepresentativeTerryberry Company, Smart Gri Technology

Mexicos Upcoming Market Boon, University ofArizona,http://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/fina

lnicholasbennett.pdf)

Exciting as well are the global connections Mexico will create and strengthen by investing in a smart

grid system. The relatively new process of installing smart grid technology makes the exchange of

information vital to success . Already, Mexico and the United States have enacted policies to work with each other in the smart gridfield. The U.S.-Mexico Bilateral on Clean Energy and Climate Change, enacted by President Obama and President Calderon in April, 2009, brings

mutually beneficial smart grid technology to both the United States and Mexico through joint cooperation and information exchange.7 Their

agreement also focused upon providing opportunities for joint work on renewable energy, exploring cooperation on greenhouse gas

inventories and reduction strategies, and promoting low carbon energy technology development.7 These broad initiatives have since enacted

several cooperative efforts, discussed in the second annual U.S.-Mexico Bilateral on Clean Energy and Climate Change meeting on May 18,

2011. One of the main focal points of the second meeting was the overview of electricity systems and plans to implement Smart Gridtechnologies. These meetings demonstrate the growing partnerships between Mexico and the U.S. They also serve to

establish an initiative which will not only bring jobs and revenue to each country, but also cleaner,

more effective and reliable energy sources.
http://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdfhttp://next.eller.arizona.edu/courses/BusinessInternationalEnvironments/Fall2011/student_papers/finalnicholasbennett.pdf


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Solvency Fed Key

Federal action is key to uniform implementation of grid integration

Ibarra-Yunez 12 (Dr. Alejandro, Professor of Economics and Public Policy Instituto Tecnologico de

Estuios Superiores e Monterrey (Mexico), Economic an Regulatory Challenges an Opportunities forUS-Mexico Electricity Trae an Cooperation, Policy Research Project Report 174, May,http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-

econ_reg_challenges_US_Mex_electricity-2012.pdf?sequence=5)

IEG (2007) notes the importance of national institutions to lead implementation of integration

initiatives (with well understood and defined roles) at the country level, while regional institutions should be used for coordination

and support services, such as data collection and dispute resolution. It notes that proper planning and agreement between

regulators at the early stages of development is of critical importance to the creation of institutional

and market mechanisms to support integration. These include a harmonized regulatory environment,

grid codes, and market rules; competitive access to both wholesale and retail markets; and legal

agreements on issues such as power purchase agreements (PPAs), liability for supply failure,environmental responsibility, and physical security and operation of the line. This recommendation, however,runs counter to the state of relative autonomy with which US regional transmission organizations and public utility commissions operate.

Historically, the US power sector has evolved to maintain distinct and exclusive regional entities for power sharinga system that hasdeveloped regionally so as to minimize its vulnerability to shocks and disruptions such as cascading power outages.
http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-econ_reg_challenges_US_Mex_electricity-2012.pdf?sequence=5http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-econ_reg_challenges_US_Mex_electricity-2012.pdf?sequence=5http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-econ_reg_challenges_US_Mex_electricity-2012.pdf?sequence=5http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-econ_reg_challenges_US_Mex_electricity-2012.pdf?sequence=5


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Solvency Synchronous Connectivity

Synchronizing grids makes energy a top priorityplans key


Estuios Superiores e Monterrey (Mexico), Economic and Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities forUS-Mexico Electricity Trae an Cooperation, Policy Research Project Report 174, May,http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-


The US-Mexico Bilateral Framework on Clean Energy and Climate Change, established by Presidents Felipe Calderon and Barack Obama

in 2009, also recognizes this priority and aims to increase electricity grid reliability and resiliency in

both countries, including of cross-border interconnections (US epartment of State 2011). Beyon simply increasing

supply for an importing country while proviing a means of income for the exporting country, interconnections have been

found to reduce prices and increase reliability (Sarmiento 2010). TheBorder Governors Conference has pointed to

untapped potential for increasing energy interconnections among border communities and has

identified cross-border energy exchanges as a priority (BGC 2009). Two key factors limiting the amount of

trade in electricity between the United States and Mexico are reliability concerns with synchronous

connectivity and legal provisions 83 governing the imports and exports of electricity across the border. Current

interconnections between the United States and Mexico offer relatively small capacities and are mostly used forpower exchanges in the event of an emergency. With the exception of one interconnection between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, all ties

along the Texas-Mexico border are asynchronous HVDC interconnections used for emergency support only. Pineau and Froschauer (2004)

assess the level of infrastructure integration and determine the current transmission capacity for cross-border electricity export, as measured

by total transmission capability over total production capacity, to be 17.13, 2.51, and 2.42 percent for Canada, the United States, and Mexico

respectively. The largest share of US-Mexico trade occurs between Baja California and California where two 230 kV ties provide a total capacity

of 800 MW. Numerous laws and network operation reliability standards in Mexico and the United States require local demand to be met first

before exportation is authorized. This means that excess generating capacity beyond what is required to meet the internal load requirements of

each system must be available for exports to occur. Exports from the US are regulated by Section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act, which

requires authorization for the trade from the Department of Energy and that the export action must not impair the operational reliability of the

US power system (North American Energy Working Group, 2002). Similarly, imports and exports from Mexico require authorization from CFE orthe Energy Ministry with similar restrictions plus additional requirements. For imports, electricity must only be used for self-supply by the party

seeking a permit, and in the case of exports, the electricity exported must be the result of cogeneration, independent power production, or

small-scale prouction. Mexicos National Interconnecte System (SIN) is expecte to maintain a reserve margin well above 27% through 2015,to move to 13% after 2015, giving it ample export potential (Figure 4.2). ERCOT (the Texas interconnection) on the other hand is forecasted to

maintain a reserve margin at or below its target level of 13.75%, suggesting a strong incentive for additional trade (ERCOT 2010).


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Solvency Expertise/Coordination

US expertise and coordinations key

SGI 12(Smart Gri Insights, Smart Gri evelopments in Mexico: Aime At Raising International

Competitiveness, 5-31, http://smartgridresearch.org/news/smart-grid-developments-in-mexico-aimed-at-raising-international-competitiveness/#sthash.R4sAtYh1.dpuf)

The goal of smart grid developments in Mexico is comprehensive. It includes increase in grid reliability which is arequirement for international competitiveness. It also includes a reduction in energy power loss. Energy power loss can be costly to the

Mexican economy. A promising future development is grid integration of renewable energy sources

throughout the country. All these things including customer service are creating an immediate demand for the deployment of smart

grid technology. The smart grid developments in Mexico are at the initial stage ; however, financial projections place

the cost of development at several million dollars over the next 10 years ending in 2022. In connection with these

developments, the government is identifying and evaluating the technologies, systems and projects

that must be done first. This is an opportunity for U.S. smart grid and technology companies to start

being involved and offer their expertise . This present situation is an opportunity for U.S. smart grid and technology companiesto export their products and services. By getting in touch with the Mexican government through CFE, the state-owned utility company, U.S.

companies can get updates on projects, future trends and the accurate and updated state of the power industry. Aside from getting updates,

U.S. smart grid and technology companies can also present their relevant technologies and services to

representatives of the state utility company. This scenario is also ideal to collaborate with government

representatives, private stakeholders as well as U.S. government organizations. The smart grid developments inMexico show such promise of future international competitiveness.
http://smartgridresearch.org/news/smart-grid-developments-in-mexico-aimed-at-raising-international-competitiveness/#sthash.R4sAtYh1.dpufhttp://smartgridresearch.org/news/smart-grid-developments-in-mexico-aimed-at-raising-international-competitiveness/#sthash.R4sAtYh1.dpufhttp://smartgridresearch.org/news/smart-grid-developments-in-mexico-aimed-at-raising-international-competitiveness/#sthash.R4sAtYh1.dpufhttp://smartgridresearch.org/news/smart-grid-developments-in-mexico-aimed-at-raising-international-competitiveness/#sthash.R4sAtYh1.dpuf


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Solvency Clarity and Commitment Key

Strong commitment key. Absent that, negative perceptions destroy relations

BGC 9(Borer Governors Conference, Strategic Guidelines for the Competitive and Sustainable

Development of the U.S.-Mexico Transborer Region, Woorow Wilson International Center forScholars, September, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/strategic-guidelines-for-the-

competitive-and-sustainable-development-the-us-mexico)

To successfullyfulfill the development potential ofthe region, while at the same time addressing existing social and institutional

challenges, it is first necessary to reach a widelyshared vision for the future of the region and a clear

understanding of what actions must bemade to achieve that vision. Without a vision and a strategy

for making this happen, thepositive aspects of the border region, such as its economic comparative

advantages, shared heritage, and diversitycan be overwhelmed by the negative aspects of dissimilar

institutions and uneven development. Even worse, without a strong commitment to longterm policies,

disparities willsimply deepen and become sources of continuous problemsand tensions.

Acknowledging the importance of proactive thinking and long-term action, the Border Governors Conference(BGC) commissioned El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El Colef) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars to identify the

elements for developing a vision of the transborder region for the year 2030 based on the principles of regional competitiveness, social and

environmental sustainability, an security. The task also inclue the ientification of the tools neee to establish an actionable policyframework based on the premises of cross-borer collaboration an mutual benefit. The Strategic Guielines for a Competitive an SustainableU.S.-Mexico Transborder Region is the result of this mission. The Strategic Guidelines build on a strong history of cross-border collaboration

among the border states that began in 1981 with the joint declarations of the Border Governors Conference and that culminated with the

Strategic Regional Vision of 2007. These documents laid the groundwork for these Strategic Guidelines and for their approach to longterm

development and policy implementation. However, these Strategic Guidelines are not an end in themselves. They represent a tool

centered on the development of partnerships built around strategicareas and based on realistic

regional policies that deal effectively with the realities of the U.S.-Mexico transborderregion.These

partnerships requirethe engagement of all the regions stakeholders, in accordance with the cross-

cutting andmulti-scale nature of the issues faced by the region. The core objective of the Strategic Guidelines,

therefore, is to provie a general framework an specific policy actions in accorance with mutually agree upon regional evelopment goals.The scope of the Strategic Guidelines includes the four spatial scales commented above: the totality of the 10-state transborder region, the

cross-borer metropolitan corriors, the planning area efine by the NAB an BECC, an the strip forme by the municipalities ajacent tothe international border.


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Solvency Investment Key

US Assistance Key to Mexico RE efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Projects

BECC (Border Environment Corporation Commission), integrating Environmental Solutions for the U.S. -Mexico Border, November 2011,http://www.cocef.org/Eng/VLibrary/Publications/SpecialReports/BECC%20WP%20%20Nov%202011%20

index.pdf

This white paper describes the current deficit in the U.S.-Mexico border region in terms of renewable

energy, energy efficiency, and transportation projects focused on the reduction of greenhouse gases

(GHG). In the presentation, the argument is made that the primary reason this project deficit exists is

due to: 1. limited resources for project development, 2. lack of capacity building, at the most

fundamental level, in the public and publicprivate sectors, and 3. lack of technical assistance program

to address this deficit.Specifically targeting a technical assistance program for renewable energy,

energy efficiency, and transportation projects to achieve GHG reductions would be invaluable inpromoting an environment for effective climate action in border communities. A proposed technical

assistance program could help public sector entities build the bases on which they can develop both

mitigation and adaptation greenhouse gas projects.

Mitigation projects are the priority of the program since they are intended to directly reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation projects are important as well, and it is recommended they be

evelope as capacity builing initiatives to assist municipalities better manage the current realities ofclimate change. Ultimately, these project types do need technical assistance funds, and the funds will

need a highly capacitated and experienced program manager.

US-MEXICO Border Lacks Environmental Infrastructure, investment Key

BECC (Border Environment Corporation Commission), integrating Environmental Solutions for the U.S. -

Mexico Border, November 2011,http://www.cocef.org/Eng/VLibrary/Publications/SpecialReports/BECC%20WP%20%20Nov%202011%20

index.pdf

Although the region is economically distressed, the northern Mexico border zone is considered more

developed than most parts of Mexico, and the southern U.S. border zone is one of the poorest regions

in the country. The economic drivers to migrate north are still considerably strong since wages are

higher in the U.S. border compared to the Mexico side of the boundary.

Utilizing 2007 figures, for the 47 U.S. border counties, the median household income was $38,840,

which is $18,189 below the national average of $55,0294 . Meanwhile for Mexican border

municipalities, the median household income was $8,0255 , which is $30,810 below their U.S. county

counterparts. Considering the tremendous population growth pressures since the early 1990s,communities on both sides of the border have co-existed under similar economic and environmental

challenges. And when you view the two sides as one region, it is clearer to see the challenges that have


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been experienced by border communities in both countries, especially in the arena of environmental

infrastructure. The environmental problems caused by shared watersheds and air sheds along the

border have been exacerbated due to limited resources and institutional capacity to develop

appropriate planning studies and implement beneficial solutions.


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Solvency A2: Intermittency

US transmission investment solves intermittency


Estudios Superiores e Monterrey (Mexico), Economic an Regulatory Challenges an Opportunities forUS-Mexico Electricity Trae an Cooperation, Policy Research Project Report 174, May,http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/17560/prp_174-


Congestion in the ERCOT region reached a record high in 2008 when system inefficiency reached a total cost of $375 million (ERCOT 2010).

These costs have since receeded, due to reductions in fuel cost, revised market rules, and transmission system improvement, to reach the

lowest level recorded in over a decade in 2008. Transmission improvements since 2009 have included over $2 billion of investment in new

autotransformer capacity and over 1,933 miles of transmission. Additionally, major investments over the next five years include $9

billion to add another 7,866 circuit miles of transmission lines. A major component of these improvements involve the addition

of planned expansions to the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) in the western portion of the state where significant

wind resources exist. Connecting these resources to the most heavily constrained (and highest growth)

countiesnamely, Bexar, Harris, Dallas, and Tarrant

remains a significant challenge.

While wind energy serves as11.4% of generating capacity, intermittency and transmission constraints reduce that amount to 1.1%

of available capacity (ERCOT 2010). No major plans exist to build signficant new 94 cross-border

transmission capacity for the purpose of wholesale power exchanges, despite the ackowledged

benefits of connecting new wind resources from neighboring Mexican states. It is well understood that

integrating wind resources across larger geographic regions helps to reduce problems with

intermittency by smoothing drops in available capacity . The last major study of potential benefits of additional cross-border ties between ERCOT and CFE was conducted through a joint CFE-ERCOT Interconnection Study in 2003. It concluded that opportunity

exists for mutual benefit in block load transfers at Ciudad Acua in the state of Coahuila, and asynchronous ties at Laredo and McAllen. A

question remains, however, as to what financing mechanisms, public or private, are most appropriate to pay for the establishment of new

cross-border ties. While benefits associated with grid reliability and security are easy to ascertain, gains from increases in trade from a yet-to-

be-utilitized connection are harder to determine.


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Solvency A2: Renewables Fail/No Investment

Specifically, grid problems cause investment fixes problems with renewable

Wood et al 12 (Duncan, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center

for Scholars, Samantha Medecigo, Department of International Affairs Instituto Tecnolgico Autnomode Mxico, Sergio Romero-Hernandez, Haas School of BusinessUC Berkeley, Win Energy Potential inMexicos Northern Borer States, Woorow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Mexico Institute),May, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Border_Wind_Energy_Wood.pdf)

thE tranSMiSSion obStacLE A major difference between the Cannon and Sempra projects is that

Cannons goal is to prouce win power for omestic consumption within Mexico. The focus on self-supply contracts suggests that the prospect of Baja Californias interconnection with the rest of the

Mexican grid will prove a boon for wind power in the area . However, the existence of a connection

between the state and the rest of the country may prove insufficient, as there is still the question of

how to move electrons generated at La Rumorosa to the existing grid in the state . Sempras Energa

Sierra Jurez has circumvented this issue by proposing to build its own cross-border transmission lineto connect with the California grid. However, Cannon is currently struggling to find off-takers for its

electricity because the transmission question within the state has not been resolved.


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Solvency A2: No Money

Funding is easy

Leibreich 10 (Michael, Chief ExecutiveBloomberg New Energy Finance, Power Struggles: The

Growing Geopolitical Role of Electricity of Markets, BNEF, V(42), October, p. Online)

Securing the finance for international transmission -assuming diplomatic and regulatory hurdles are

overcome - ought to be easy, since construction risks are relatively low and the technologies of high-

voltage direct current and high-voltage alternating current cables are more mature. With institutional

investors such as pension funds struggling for yield, with 10-year bonds offering 4% or less in most

leading economies, low-risk infrastructure offering 7-9% looks attractive indeed. Even more so if the

construction phase is financed by a utility and the project is only sold onto institutions once it is

operating.


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*** US/MEXICO RELATIONS ADV


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Relations Adv 1AC

Advantage : US-Mexico Border Relations

Mexicos presidential election casts doubt on the future of US-Mexico relations

energy cooperations key

Seelke 13 (Clare Ribando, Specialist in Latin American AffairsCRS, Mexicos New Aministration:Priorities and Key Issues in U.S.-Mexican Relations, Congressional Research Service, 1-16,http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdf)

Congress has maintained significant interest in Mexico and played an important role in shaping

bilateral relations . Recently, the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) that governed Mexico from

1929 to 2000 retook the presidency after 12 years of rule by the conservative National Action Party

(PAN) in the July 1, 2012 elections. The party also capture a plurality (but not a majority) in Mexicos Senate an Chamber of

Deputies. PRI President Enrique Pea Nieto, a former governor of the state of Mexico, took office on December 1,

2012, pledging to enact bold structural reforms and broaden relations with the United States beyond securityissues. U.S. policymakers are closely following what the return of a PRI government portends for

Mexicos domestic policies and relations with the United States. Upon his inauguration, President Pea Nieto announced areformist agenda with specific proposals under five broad pillars: reducing violence; combating poverty; boosting economic growth; reforming

education; an fostering social responsibility. He then signe a Pact for Mexico agreement with the leaers of the PAN an leftist Party of theDemocratic Revolution (PRD) containing legislative proposals for implementing an agenda that includes energy and fiscal reform. Although the

pact may ease opposition in Mexicos Congress, Pea Nieto coul face other constraints such as violence perpetrate by Mexicos powerfulcriminal organizations and the performance of the U.S. and global economies. Some analysts maintain that the prospects for reform under this

administration are good, while others are more circumspect. U.S.-Mexican relations grew closer during the Felipe

Caldern Administration (2006-2012) as a result of the Mrida Initiative, a bilateral security effort for which Congress

has provided $1.9 billion. Some Members of Congress may be concerned about whether bilateral relations,

particularly security cooperation, may suffer now that the party controlling the presidency has

changed. Although the transition from PAN to PRI rule is unlikely to result in seismic shifts in bilateral relations, a PRI government may

emphasize economic issues more than security matters. President Pea Nieto has vowed to continue U.S.-Mexican security cooperation,

albeit with a stronger emphasis on reducing violent crime in Mexico than on combating drug trafficking; what that

cooperation will look like remains to be seen. He has also expressed support for increased bilateral and

trilateral (with Canada) economic and energy cooperation .

Cooperation over energy infrastructure is THE key issue to broader US-Mexico border

relations

Sweedler et al 5 (Alan, *Assistant Vice President for International Programs at San Diego StateUniversity, Director of the Center for Energy Studies and the Environmental Sciences Program and

Professor of Physics, Founder of SDSU's program on International Security and Conflict Resolution,

Congressional Science Fellow in the US Senate, and a Carnegie Science Fellow at Stanford University inthe area of arms control an international security, Margarito Quintero Nez, Kimberly Collins, EnergyIssues in the U.S.-Mexican

Binational Region: Focus on California-Baja California,http://scerp.org/pubs/m11/chapter%201-5.pdf)

Energy is an indispensable lifeblood of the U.S.-Mexican border region and it is a key issue in the

binational regions future. The energy sectors in the United States, Mexico, and Canada are undergoing

changes that will affect how energy is produced, transmitted, distributed, and sold throughout North America.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdfhttp://scerp.org/pubs/m11/chapter%201-5.pdfhttp://scerp.org/pubs/m11/chapter%201-5.pdfhttp://scerp.org/pubs/m11/chapter%201-5.pdfhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdf


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These changes will directly influence energy use and energy-related infrastructure in the U.S.-Mexican

border region. This chapter focuses on national energy issues in the United States and Mexico, border-wide topics of concern, and the

California-Baja California section on the border. Population growth is the main force behind the increasing demand

for energy services in the binational region. The expanding economy is another important factor. Thesefactors have led to a greater demand for energy services in the border region than is expected for other areas of North America. To meet the

expected demand in northern Mexico, new and upgraded interconnections of the transmission system with the United States will be needed.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) does provide new opportunities for private energy companies, particularly those in theelectric power industry. In addition to the increased need for power, there will be significant pressure on supplies of natural gas and associated

infrastructure, such as high-pressure gas pipelines, distribution systems, and pumping stations. As prices for fossil fuels and

electricity continue to rise, it is expected that solar energy (both thermal and electric) will also become more

important in the border region than in the past. A secure supply of reasonably priced energy with a

minimal environmental impact will be needed for the U.S.-Mexican border region if it is to remain

competitive in the global economy. Given the expected increase in population and living standards on the Mexican side of theborder, it is difficult to see how power demand can be met without the construction of new generating facilities in the border region. However,

if environmental degradation is to be avoided and quality of life standards improved, the type of generation will be important. Heavy

reliance of fossil fuels, even natural gas, will inevitably degrade air quality, contribute to global climate

change, and stress limited water supplies . There are several ways to enhance crossborder cooperation in the energy field and

provide the energy services needed for border residents in the future. But doing so will require effective cooperation andcoordination between the privatized energy market players and the local and state agencies still responsible for regulating the energysector in both the United States and Mexico.

It outweigh alt causesUS engagements key

Wood 10 (Duncan, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center forScholars, Environment, evelopment an Growth: U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Renewable Energies,Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Mexico Institute), May,

http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.

pdf)

This study examines one of the most important and potentially lucrative dimensions of the growth of the

renewable energy sector in Mexico, namely bilateral cooperation between Mexico and the United States.

The 2009 bilateral framework should be seen in the context of an emerging trend in Mexico towards

renewable energy, and as recognition of the need for the United States to take advantage of this if it is to meet its own carbon emissions

reduction goals. The long border shared by the two countries, so often seen as a point of conflict due to the

thorny issues of migration , drugs and security , holds the potential to benefit both states through

the trade in renewable energy from wind, geothermal, biomass and solar sources. But the promise of collaboration in

the sector goes far beyond the border . The US has been engaged with Mexico in RE issues for over

15 years now on multiple levels, and this has brought tangible results that have had a significant impact

on both Mexico and on bilateral relations.

US-Mexico relations in the border region are failing cooperation over resources spillsover which solves terrorism and biodiversityclaritys key

Bonner and Rozental 9 (Robert C., Former Commissioner U.S. Customs and Border Protection;Former Administratorrug Enforcement Aministration, an Anrs, Former eputy Foreign Ministerof Mexico; Former President and FounderMexican Council on Foreign Relations, Managing theUnited States-Mexico Borer: Cooperative Solutions to Common Problems, Pacific Council onInternational Policy, http://www.pacificcouncil.org/admin/document.doc?id=31)
http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf


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The 1,952-mile Mexico-U.S. border is unique. Only nine international land boundaries are longer, and only the longest of these(Canaas borer with the Unite States) can claim the same flow of legal commerce an travel almost $300 billion in trade each year.

Millions of people legally cross the frontier annually; because many of them do soseveral times a week, the

total number of crossings into the United States from Mexico exceeds 200 million per year. No other major national boundary

sees anything like thisvolume of traffic. The pacific nature of relations between the United States and

Mexico also sets the border apart from most other long land boundaries. It has been nearly a century since the

last hostile action (U.S. raids in search of Pancho Villa after his attacks on Columbus, New Mexico during the Mexican Revolution), decadesmore since the last major rectification of the frontier (the Gadsden Purchase of 1853-4) and 161 years since a forcible seizure of territory (at the

conclusion of the U.S.-Mexican War in 1848). The border is policed and where the boundary is not a river, often fenced but it remains

demilitarized. Interdependence is an abiding feature of the U.S.-Mexico relationship, and this interdependence isparticularly pronounced along the border itself, where most communities are twin cities. In the case of Nogales, the towns on each side of the

border share the same name; in the case of Calexico and Mexicali, they are simply different combinations of the same words (Mexico and

California). Hundreds of thousands of people from these communities commute across the border for work, shopping, and visits with friends or

relatives. Interdependence raises the stakes for both countries. Because trade flows are soimmense,

misguided policies can impose tens of billions of dollars ofcosts each year on consumers. Poor security coordination

along the frontier could prove deadly and even, in the case of a serious terrorist threat , disastrous.

Sound joint management of shared resources can lead to sustained and ecologically sustainable

development in the border region, whereas mismanagement of these same resources by either government will

produce scarcity and environmental degradation. Finally, federal policies in both countries that ignore interdependence or

reflexively promote sovereignty over other considerations split border communities. In this report, we urge both governments to

confront the challenges of bordermanagement directly and immediately. We identify the policies they

should adopt nowto secure the border, expedite legitimate crossings, manage shared resources, and foster

economic development. We also articulate the ultimate goal to which they should aspire, offering a conception of bordermanagement that can guide them as they adopt specific policies. Full Report 9 We envision a system of border management that moves people

and goods between the United States and Mexico far more quickly and efficiently than the present arrangement but that also makes both

nations more secure. This new system wouldexpedite trade, encourage the emergence of regional economic clusters, promote

wise stewardship ofshared natural resources, enhance efforts to preserve ecosystems that cross the national boundary, and invitecommunities that ot an span the frontier to exploit opportunities for mutual benefit. Ultimately, the borer shoul be as thin astechnologically and politically possible for those engaged in legitimate travel or commerce while remaining difficult to penetrate for those

engaged in criminal activity or unauthorized transit. Management of this shared boundary should serve as a model

for binational collaboration in confronting shared challenges. Few policymakers, legislators and opinion leaders fullyunderstand the border. Indeed, misperception and misunderstanding of the situation at the border create a

major public relations challenge. Those seeking to improve management of this shared boundary and the region around it mustinform policymakers by describing the situation on the ground before their recommendations will make sense. In the next section of this

report, therefore, we offer our diagnosis of the situation on the ground today. We emphasize not only the deficiencies in border management

but also the bright spots along the frontier where cooperation has been exemplary. Significant cooperationbetween Mexico

and the United States already exists along the border, but it is incomplete, uneven, and unsystematic.

Sustaining the border regions environment is key to overall biodiversity

BGC 9(Borer Governors Conference, Strategic Guielines for the Competitive an SustainableDevelopment of the U.S.-Mexico Transborder Region, Woorow Wilson International Center forScholars, September, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/strategic-guidelines-for-the-


Due to its vastness the U.S.-Mexico border region encompasses an important wealth of natural resources and diverse

ecosystems. Freshwater, marine, and wetland ecosystems, deserts, rangelands, and several forest

types constitute sensitive and invaluable natural features . For example, the Chihuahuan Desert supports 350 of the 1 500

known species of cacti in the world. Many of these species are found only in single valleys. In the western region, the Sonoran Desert

has the greatest diversity of vegetation of any desert in theworld. A prominent feature of the Chihuahuan and

Sonoran deserts is the occurrence of mountain ranges separated by extended valleys. These ranges provide habitats not present in the


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(Raymuno et al.2009). As Earths climate changes, the roles of species an ecosystems will only increase in their importance to humanity(Turner et al.2009). In many respects, conservation is local. People generally care more about the biodiversity in the place in which they live.

They also depend upon these ecosystems the most and, broadly speaking, it is these areas over which they have the most control.Furthermore, we believe that all biodiversity is important and that every nation, every region, and every community should do everything

possible to conserve their living resources. So, what is the importance of setting global priorities?Extinction is a global

phenomenon, with impacts far beyond nearby administrative borders. More practically, biodiversity, the threats toit, and the ability of countries to pay for its conservation vary around the world. The vast majority of the global conservation budget perhaps

90% originates in and is spent in economically wealthy countries (James et al.1999). It is thus critical that those globally flexible funsavailable in the hundreds of millions annually be guided by systematic priorities if we are to move deliberately toward a global goal ofreducing biodiversity loss. The establishment of priorities for biodiversity conservation is complex, but can be framed as a single question.

Given the choice, where should action toward reducing the loss ofbiodiversity be implemented first ?The fiel of

conservation planning addresses this question and revolves around a framework ofvulnerability and irreplaceability(Margules and Pressey2000). Vulnerability measures the risk to the species present in a region if the species and ecosystems that are highlythreatened are not protected now, we will not get another chance in the future. Irreplaceability measures the extent to which spatial

substitutes exist for securing biodiversity. The number of species alone is an inadequate indication of conserva-tion priority because several

areas can share the same species. In contrast, areas with high levels of endemism are irreplaceable. We must conserve these places because

the unique species they contain cannot be saved elsewhere. Put another way, biodiversity is not evenly distributed on our planet. It is heavily

concentrated in certain areas, these areas have exceptionally high concentrations of endemic species found nowhere else, and many (but not

all) of these areas are the areas at greatest risk of disappearing because of heavy human impact.Myers seminal paper (Myers1988) was the

first application of the principles of irreplaceability an vulnerability to guie conservation planning on a global scale. Myers described

tentropical forest hotspots on the basis of extraordinary plant endemism and high levels ofhabitat loss, albeitwithout quantitative criteria for the esignation of hotspot status. A subsequent analysis ae eight aitional hotspots, including four fromMediterranean-type ecosystems (Myers1990).After adopting hotspots as an institutional blueprint in 1989, Conservation Interna-tional worked

with Myers in a first systematic upate of the hotspots. It introuce two strict quantitative criteria: to qualify as a hotspot, a region had tocontain at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics (>0.5% of the worls total), an it ha to have 30% or less of its original vegetation (extent

of historical habitat cover)remaining. These efforts culminated in an extensive global review (Mittermeier et al.1999) and scientific

publication (Myers et al.2000) that introduced seven new hotspotson the basis of both the better-efine criteria an new

data. A second systematic update (Mittermeier et al.2004) did not change the criteria, but revisited the set of hotspots based on new data onthe istribution of species an threats, as well as genuine changes in the threat status of these regions. That upate reefined several hotspots,such as the Eastern Afromontane region, and added several others that were suspected hotspots but for which sufficient ata either i notexist or were not accessible to conservation scientists outside of those regions. Sadly, it uncovered another region the East Melanesian Islands which rapid habitat destruction had in a short period of time transforme from a bioiverse region that faile to meet the less than 30% oforiginal vegetation remaining criterion to a genuine hotspot.

Independently, US border cooperation over electricity creates an effective response to

a bio-terror attack no impact defense

CSIS 4(Center for Strategic an International Stuies, U.S.-Mexico Border Security and the EvolvingSecurity Relationship, CSIS Mexico Project, April,http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/0404_bordersecurity.pdf)

Before the September 11 and anthrax attacks in the United States in the fall of 2001, the potential for major terrorist attacks in North America

was not considered to be high. But those lethal surprise attacks on innocent civilians, and many developments since then,

have continuallyelevated the level of threat that the American people now confront. The retaliatory warwaged successfully against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the continuing military occupation of that country by coalition and other forces,

the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, and other developments in the war against terror have greatly elevated awareness of the

need to prepare for a possible future attack. Managing Binational Bioterrorist Threats The threat of biological terrorism

continues to be one of the gravest concerns of U.S. authoritiesat the national, state, and local levels. These concerns

have led to the perception that there is a potential risk that Al Qaeda or other Islamist terrorist groups could

attempt to exploit the long and porous U.S.-Mexican border to infiltrate terrorists and biological

weapons of mass destruction into the United States. The relative ease with which illegal immigrants

and illicit drugs are transported into the United States from and through Mexico, and the wealth,

skills, and experience of trafficking organizations, indicates that the threat of biological terrorism

through Mexico deserves sustained and serious attention. Moreover, the threat canonly be addressed

seriously through extensive and increased collaboration by intelligence and law enforcement agencies on both sides of
http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/0404_bordersecurity.pdfhttp://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/0404_bordersecurity.pdf


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the border. Increasingly, too, Mexican authorities have recognized that coordinating a response to a cross-border bioterrorist attack must

involve national, state, and local authorities in public health and other fields in both countries. For example, the high migratory flows

and generally long incubation periods of some biological pathogens would make it nearly impossible

to isolate communicable diseases within either country if a dangerous outbreak of disease occurred.Because of the enormous flow of people back and forth along the border, public health calamities on either side inevitably would soon affect

large populations on both sides. Responsibility for anticipating and preparing for such disasters must be shared. Cooperation among medical,

public health, emergency preparedness, and first response organizations in both countries must be developed. Moreover, the level of

awareness and fear of biological terrorism has reached unprecedented levels in Mexico as well as in the United States. Despite the fact that

there were no real anthrax attacks in Mexico in the aftermath of those in the United States in the fall of 2001, Mexican public health officials

were required to respond to a number of hoaxes. At the peak of the anthrax crisis in the United States, the Mexican Ministry of Health received

over 200 phone calls daily from worried citizens. And, in August 2002, a bioterrorist scare in the border town of McAllen, Texas, required 70

people to be evacuated and forced officials to close the main thoroughfare between Mexico and the United States. Mexico has entered into

several bilateral and multilateral initiatives to enhance its preparedness and response capabilities. At the multilateral level, Mexico is a member

of the G-8s Global Health Security Action Group (GHSAG), which was created in 2001. In that capacity, Mexico has engaged in informationsharing with member countriesCanada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and Russiaand has participated inmultilateral exercises to test international bioterrorism response mechanisms, such as the Canadian-led Exercise Global Mercury, which

simulate a smallpox outbreak. Bilaterally, Mexicos efforts have focuse on eveloping enhance isease surveillance capability along the U.S.-Mexico borer. The U.S. epartment of Health an Human Services Centers for isease Control an Prevention (CC), the Mexican Ministry ofHealth, and border health officials collaborated on the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance (BIDS) project. The BIDS project was initiated in

1997 in response to binational consensus among public health officials on the need for a system for surveillance of infectious diseases along the

border. The initiative has led to the development of a network of selected clinical sites that conduct surveillance for infectious diseases along

the borer region. Mexicos participation in the BIS project has le to greater interaction among public health officials on both sides of the

border. More recently, Mexico demonstrated its commitment to improving cross-border preparedness and response capability by offering tohost the U.S. Off ice of Naval Research conference on infectious disease and bioterrorism. Although government agencies on

both sides of the border have undertaken steps to prepare for biological attacks , the discussion of how

government at various levels should prepare and be able to respond remains arguably more theoretical than practical .

U.S.-Mexico Critical Infrastructure Protection The threat of catastrophic terrorism has promptedU.S. homeland security

officialsto undertake a series of measures to securethe nations critical infrastructure: food, water, agriculture,

and health and emergency services; energy sources (electrical, nuclear, gas and oil, dams); transportation infrastructure (air, roads,rails, ports, waterways); information and telecommunications networks; banking and finance systems; postal and other assets; and other

systems vital to our national security, public health and safety, economy, and way of life. The resultant protective measures,

however, cannot be undertaken in isolation if they are to effectively protect the U.S. homeland. The

intense integration and geographical proximity of Mexico and the United States makes bilateral

cooperation on critical infrastructure protection an imperative. As such, the secure infrastructure chapter of the smartborder accords committed the two governments to cooperation on surveying and protecting critical infrastructure in the border region. Critical

infrastructure in Mexicoboth in the northern border region and elsewhere in the countrycould be targeted by

terrorists attempting indirectly to doharm to the United States. Mexican infrastructure critical to U.S. interestsincludes a diversity of strategic sites, ranging from oil and natural gas production facilities and pipelines, water supplies, power generating

stations and grids, and other facilities that, if destroyed or incapacitated for any length of time, would have significant adverse effects on both

the United States and Mexico.

Bioterrorism results in extinction

Sandberg et al 8Research Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University. PhD incomputation neuroscience, StockholmANDJason G. MathenyPhD candidate in Health Policy andManagement at Johns Hopkins. special consultant to the Center for Biosecurity at the University of

PittsburghANDMilan M. Dirkovidsenior research associate at the Astronomical Observatory ofBelgrade. Assistant professor of physics at the University of Novi Sad. (Anders, How can we reduce the

risk of human extinction?, 9 September 2008, http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/how-

can-we-reduce-the-risk-of-human-extinction)The risks from anthropogenic hazards appear at present larger than those from natural ones. Although great progress has been made in

reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world, humanity is still threatened by the possibility of a global thermonuclear war and a

resulting nuclear winter. We may face even greater risks from emerging technologies. Advances in synthetic

biology might make it possible to engineer pathogens capable of extinction-level pandemics. The knowledge,


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equipment, and materials needed to engineer pathogens are more accessible than those needed to build nuclear weapons. And unlike

other weapons, pathogens are self-replicating, allowing a small arsenal to become exponentially

destructive. Pathogens have been implicated in the extinctions of many wild species. Although most pandemics "fade out" by

reducing the density of susceptible populations, pathogens with wide host ranges in multiple species can reach even isolated

individuals. The intentional or unintentional release of engineered pathogens with high transmissibility, latency, and lethality

might be capable of causing human extinction . While such an event seems unlikely today, the likelihood mayincrease as biotechnologies continue to improve at a rate rivaling Moore's Law.


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Relations Adv U Relations Low

Relations low drug war

Walser, 5/2(Ray, veteran Foreign Service officer, is a Senior Policy Analyst specializing in Latin America

at The Heritage Founation) Presient Obama, the rug War, an Mexico: Failure Is an Option. TheFoundary. May 2, 2013. http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/02/president-obama-the-drug-war-and-

mexico-failure-is-an-option/The White House still retains the power to set the national agenda and frame the political conversation at home and abroad. In his last

conversation relating to drug issues in December 2012, President Obama, when asked about the passage of marijuana

legalization laws in Colorado and the state of Washington, responded that the federal government

had bigger fish to fry. These state laws run contrary to federal law and U.S. treaty obligations.

Then-president Felipe Calderon of Mexico angrily fired back, questioning U.S. moral authority. When

interviewed by the American Quarterly about his Mexican trip, the President answered no questions about drug trafficking. In Mexico this

week, Obama will talk trade, immigration reform, education, and dance diplomatically around the

drug issue. Fresh friction has emerged between the U.S. and Mexico over rules for counter-drug

intelligence collection and sharing.Mexicos current presient, Enrique Pea Nieto appears to be concentrating on more

centralized control over drug collection and operations on Mexican territory. Concerned about citizen security, Pea Nieto

hopes to reduce the harm done to ordinary Mexicans as drugs flow across his nations territory to U.S.

consumers. At the back of his mind also is a recognition that he is dealing with the same

Administration that launched Operation Fast and Furious, which let guns walk across the border, and

that argues marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington is no big deal.

Tensions between the US and Mexico over intelligence sharing

Archibold et al 4/30/2013 (Ranal, amien Cave, Ginger Thompson) Mexicos Curbs on U.S. Role inDrug Fight Spark Friction. NYT. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/americas/friction-between-

us-and-mexico-threatens-efforts-on-drugs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

But shortly after Mexicos new president,Enrique Pea Nieto, took office in December, American agents

got a clear message that the dynamics, with Washington holding the clear upper hand, were about to change.So do weget to polygraph you? one incoming Mexican official asked his American counterparts, alarming

United States security officials who consider the vetting of the Mexicans central to tracking down drug kingpins. The Mexican

government briefly stopped its vetted officials from cooperating in sensitive investigations. The Americans

are waiting to see if Mexico allows polygraphs when assigning new members to units, a senior Obama administration official said.In

another clash, American security officials were recently asked to leave an important intelligence

center in Monterrey, where they had worked side by side with an array of Mexican military and police

commanders collecting and analyzing tips and intelligence on drug gangs. The Mexicans, scoffing at

the notion of Americans having so much contact with different agencies, questioned the value of the

center and made clear that they would put tighter reins on the sharing of drug intelligence. There

have long been political sensitivities in Mexico over allowing too much American involvement. But therecent policy changes have rattled American officials used to far fewer restrictions than they have faced in years.

Relations low Mexico blames the US for drug markets

Shirk 13 David Shirk, Associate professor of political science, NPR, May 4, 2013I think that there are a lot of people who would agree with that idea. And in some ways, you can see that the drug war, as it's played out over

the last 34 years, in particular as a U.S. proxy war. That said, over the last six years, working with Mexico, U.S. officials have consistently tried to

let Mexico set the agenda. U.S. officials that I spoke to, repeatedly - and Mexican officials - repeatedly expressed the understanding that Mexico

and the United States were working together because they had a shared responsibility to deal with the problem of drug trafficking and

organized crime. But I think U.S. officials are really waiting to see whether they will be able to cooperate with the Pena Nieto administration
http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/02/president-obama-the-drug-war-and-mexico-failure-is-an-option/http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/02/president-obama-the-drug-war-and-mexico-failure-is-an-option/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/obama-ive-got-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-pot-smokers/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/obama-ive-got-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-pot-smokers/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/14/mexico-prez-us-lacks-moral-authority-for-drug-war/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/14/mexico-prez-us-lacks-moral-authority-for-drug-war/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/14/mexico-prez-us-lacks-moral-authority-for-drug-war/http://www.americasquarterly.org/aq-interviews-barack-obama-about-trip-to-mexico-and-costa-ricahttp://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/01/obama-in-mexico-change-the-reality-not-the-conversation/http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/01/obama-in-mexico-change-the-reality-not-the-conversation/http://blog.heritage.org/2012/11/16/fast-and-furious-marijuana-legalization-still-worry-our-southern-neighbors/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/americas/friction-between-us-and-mexico-threatens-efforts-on-drugs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/americas/friction-between-us-and-mexico-threatens-efforts-on-drugs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/enrique_pena_nieto/index.html?inline=nyt-perhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/enrique_pena_nieto/index.html?inline=nyt-perhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/enrique_pena_nieto/index.html?inline=nyt-perhttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/americas/friction-between-us-and-mexico-threatens-efforts-on-drugs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/americas/friction-between-us-and-mexico-threatens-efforts-on-drugs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0http://blog.heritage.org/2012/11/16/fast-and-furious-marijuana-legalization-still-worry-our-southern-neighbors/http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/01/obama-in-mexico-change-the-reality-not-the-conversation/http://www.americasquarterly.org/aq-interviews-barack-obama-about-trip-to-mexico-and-costa-ricahttp://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/14/mexico-prez-us-lacks-moral-authority-for-drug-war/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/obama-ive-got-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-pot-smokers/http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/02/president-obama-the-drug-war-and-mexico-failure-is-an-option/http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/02/president-obama-the-drug-war-and-mexico-failure-is-an-option/


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and in what areas. Because there is some sense that the trust and collaboration that was built up over the

last six years is at least on hold , if not in recession. It seems to me - I've spoken with Mexicans, who,

to deal in shorthand, are sick of the drug wars and sick of the cartels and blame them for thousands of

deaths, and yet at the same time, in some ways, they blame Americans for being the market for

those drugs . I mean, first of all, I think many Mexicans are tired of having their country portrayed as a lawless, violent and corrupt place.That said, I also think that, for many Mexicans, this incredible fight that they've made over the last six years to try to take on organized crimehas not yielded major gains in stopping the flow of drugs in even necessarily breaking down some of the major cartels that operate in Mexico.

So, there is a sense that they've made all of this effort and it's primarily to prevent U.S. drug consumers in

engaging in an illicit market activity . I think some Mexicans may simply say this is not worth the effort. This is not our fight. Let'slet the drug traffickers get back to business as usual and we can get on with our lives.


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Relations Adv Energy/Border Key

Energy cooperation at the border is key affects majority of US-Mexico interactions

BGC 9(Borer Governors Conference, Strategic Guielines for the Competitive an Sustainable

Development of the U.S.-Mexico Transborer Region, Woorow Wilson International Center forScholars, September, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/strategic-guidelines-for-the-


A thir efinition is one that funamentally efines the Borer Governors Conference. espite the inepenence of the two nations, the six

Mexican states and the four U.S. states that lie on the international boundary form a true transborder

region, sharing many common challenges and concerns. Shared issues involve transportation, logistics,

energy , water, public services, and socio-economic development, among others. Administrative systems are not the same in Mexico as they

are in the Unite States, an the two countries feeral systems iffer significantly regaring the autonomy grante local an state

governments. Nevertheless, a prosperous, highly functioning border region is in the interest of all 10 states, andit is not viable for the state governments to defer border-related matters to their respective federal or municipal governments. Providing

regional platforms for innovation, entrepreneurialism, trade, and global engagement, major transborder corridors traverse the region and are

anchored by populous metropolitan areas. An example of one such corridor is the Knowledge Corridor, connecting the Monterrey metropolitanarea in the state of Nuevo Len with the metropolitan areas of San Antonio, Houston and Dallas in Texas. The Sun Corridor, connecting the

metro areas of Phoenix, Tucson, and Nogales in Arizona with Nogales, Hermosillo, and Obregn in Sonora, is an emerging transborder corridor.

These and other corridors tend to consolidate linear urban systems that already have highly interconnected businesses and knowledge centers.

From a regional perspective, corridors provide another understanding of the transborder region, as they represent the centers of intense and

dynamic exchange between Mexico an the Unite States. No matter which efinition is use, the transborder region is central

to U.S.-Mexico relations . There are three major reasonswhy an efficient, highly functioning borer is key to U.S.-Mexico

relations. First, border states economies have been among the most dynamic and fastest-growing of

both countries. Second, the border is the point of entry for the vast bulk of merchandise trade. Third, a

surprisingly large share of Mexico-U.S. interaction occurs in the transborder region. Though each of these

points is important in itself, taken together they emphasize the fact that a healthy border region serves both

U.S. and Mexican national interests. Additionally, these points suggest that improved U.S.-Mexico relations are

possible through the promotion of more productive and prosperous economies on both sides of theborder.


27/97

Relations Adv Delay Fails/Now Key

This year/congress key

Seelke 13 (Clare Ribando, Specialist in Latin American AffairsCRS, Mexicos New Aministration:

Priorities and Key Issues in U.S.-Mexican Relations, Congressional Research Service, 1-16,http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdf)

Mexico and U.S.-Mexican relations are experiencing a time of transition . This transition may bring about

advances in some areas of the bilateral relationship, while setbacks may occur in others. Throughout this process, the 113th

Congress is likely to closely monitor conditions in Mexico, as well as U.S.-Mexican cooperation on key

issues as part of its legislative and oversight capacities.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdfhttp://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42917.pdf


28/97

Relations Adv Energy Key/A2: Alt Causes

Closer collaborations key outweighs alt causes

Wood 10 (Duncan, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for

Scholars, Environment, evelopment an Growth: U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Renewable Energies,Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Mexico Institute), May,

http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.

pdf)

The second general policy recommendation is to enhance current programs designed to build human capital

in renewable energy. Through the Mexico Renewable Energy Program, the work of the USAID and through the US Mexico TIES program, investments in

human capital are bringing long term benefits to Mexicos renewable energy sector, an more should be done in this regard, both through

facilitating more and closer collaboration between university level programs and through support for Mexicobasedtraining programs in the issue area. Renewable energy stands out as one of the most positive items

on the bilateral agenda between Mexicoand the US today. Whereas the media coverage of Mexico is

dominated by drugs, migration andviolence, the potential for Mexican renewable energy to contribute todevelopment, employment and growth there, as well as helping to satisfy growing demand for clean energy in the US, should be seen as a truly positive example of

what can be achieved through sustained and wellthoughtout bilateralcooperation. With continued attention from

agencies and firms on both sides of the border, theMexican renewable energy sector holds enormous

potential to contribute even more in the future.
http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdfhttp://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf


29/97

Relations Adv Energy Key/Hegemony Impact

Energy cooperations key to the overall relations and US leadership

Roberts and Walser 13 (James M., Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth in the

Center for International Trade and Economics The Heritage Foundation, and Dr. Ray, Senior PolicyAnalyst for Latin America in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies HeritageFounation, The Hagel, Kerry, an Brennan Senate Confirmation Hearings: U.S. Policy for the WesternHemisphere, Heritage Founation, 1-18, http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/kerry-hagel-and-brennan-senate-confirmation-hearings-us-policy-for-the-western-hemisphere)

Mexicos fight against organized crime has cast a doleful shadow over U.S.Mexican relations . New

Mexican Presient Enrique Pea Nieto promises to restore citizen security an continue overhauling Mexicos police an juiciary. Often

overlooked in the U.S. is Mexicos emerging economic statusthe worls 11th largest economy an growing. If

Mexico opens its energy sector to equity participation with American companies (with their advanced

deepwater, fracking, and horizontal drilling technologies) and makes other serious reforms, it can reverse an alarming decline inits oil production and tap massive shale gas deposits. The U.S. should continue to help Mexico fight organized crime with a continuation of the

Merida Initiative, enhanced military-to-military ties, and serious attention to building real citizen security. The U.S. and Mexico need

to act jointly in troubled Central America, particularly in the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to combattrafficking organizations and shore up weak police and judicial institutions. Investing in border infrastructure, avoiding protectionist flare-ups,

and exploring new cross-border energy alternatives can also cement a stronger U.S.Mexico

relationship . The U.S. will find it hard to project global leadership without a democratic, prosperous,

and stable Mexico.
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/kerry-hagel-and-brennan-senate-confirmation-hearings-us-policy-for-the-western-hemispherehttp://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/kerry-hagel-and-brennan-senate-confirmation-hearings-us-policy-for-the-western-hemispherehttp://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/kerry-hagel-and-brennan-senate-confirmation-hearings-us-policy-for-the-western-hemispherehttp://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/kerry-hagel-and-brennan-senate-confirmation-hearings-us-policy-for-the-western-hemisphere


30/97

Relations Adv Hegemony Impact

US-Mexico relations are key to global power projection the impact is hegemony

Pastor 12 (Robert A., Professor and Director of the Center for North American Studies American

University, Beyon the Continental ivie, The American Interest, July/August,http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269)

Most Americans think that the largest markets for U.S. exports are China an Japan, an that may explain the Obama Aministrations Asian initiative. But the truth

is that Canada and Mexico are the top two markets for U.S. exports . Most Americans also think that Saudi Arabia andVenezuela are the largest sources of our energy imports, but again, Canada and Mexico are more important. And again, we think that most tourists who come and

spend money here are European and Asian, but more than half are Canadians and Mexicans. A similar percentage of Americans who travel abroad go to our two

neighbors. All in all, no two nations are more important for the U.S. economy than our two closest neighbors .From the perspective of U.S. national security, too, recall for a moment that Mexico and Canada made an historic gamble in signing NAFTA. Already dependent on

the behemoth next door and wary of the imbalance of power, both countries feared that NAFTA coul d make them more vulnerable. Still, they hoped that the

United States would be obligated to treat them on an equal and reciprocal basis and that they would prosper from the agreement. Canadians and Mexicans have

begun to question whether they made the right choice. There are, of course, a wealth of ways to measure the direct and indirect impact of NAFTA, but political

attention, not without justification, tends to focus on violations of the agreement. The U.S. government violated NAFTA by denying Mexican trucks the right to enter

the United States for 16 years, relenting in the most timid way, and only after Mexico was permitted by the World Trade Organ ization to retaliate in October 2011.

And for more than a decade, Washington failed to comply with decisions made by a dispute-settlement mechanism regarding imports of soft- wood lumber from

Canada. More recently, the United States decided to build a huge wall to keep out Mexicans, and after a three- year process of reviewing the environmental impact

of the Keystone XL pipeline from western Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, this past December 2011 President Obama decided to postpone the decision for another

year. This is the sort oftreatment likely to drive both Canada and Mexico to conclude that depending on the United

States was the wrong decision. Imagine for a moment what might happen ifCanada and Mexico came to such a

conclusion. Canada might divert its energy exports to China, especially if China guaranteed a long-term relationship at a good price. Mexico would

diversify with South America and China and might be less inclined to keep Americas rivals, like Iran,

at arms length. Is there anyone who thinks these developments would not set off national security

alarms? A very old truth would quickly reassert itself: The United States can project its power into

Asia, Europe and the Middle East in part because it need not worry about its neighbors . A new

corollary of that truth would not be far behind: Canada and Mexico are far more important to the national

security of the United States than Iraq and Afghanistan . Beyond the economy and national security, our two neighbors

have societal ties to the United States that make all other ethnic connections seem lean in

comparison. By 2015, there will be about 35 million people in the United State s who were either born in Mexico or whose parents were born in Mexico; thatnumber excees the total population of Canaa. Canaians in the Unite States ont stan out as much as o Mexicans, but nea rly a million Canadians live in theUnited States. And more Americans live in Mexico than in any other foreign country. In sum, the economy, national security and society of the United States,

Mexico and Canada are far more intertwined than most U.S., Canadian and Mexican citizens realize. Most Americans havent worried about

Mexico in strategic termssince the ays of Pancho Villa, or about Canaa since the 1814 Battle of Plattsburgh. Thats unwise. Bad relations

with either country, let alone both, would be disastrous . On the other hand, deeper relations could be vastly

beneficial. We ont seem reay to recognize that truth either.
http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1269


31/97

Relations Adv Nuclear Terror Impact

Relations solve border terrorism and drug networks

Storrs 6 (K. Larry Storrs, Specialist in Latin American Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade

ivision of CRS, 1/18/2006 Mexicos Importance an MultipleRelation

Mexico Grids Affirmative - SDI 2013

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