Papers by Lourdes Alonso
Competition & Change
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca is the first region in Mexico with a large-scale wind energy... more The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca is the first region in Mexico with a large-scale wind energy development. The region holds 60% of the country’s installed capacity, but the new infrastructure has faced opposition from sectors of the local population concerned about wind farms’ social and environmental impacts. The opposition and ensuing conflicts have been widely studied; some of these studies have framed wind energy as part of the recent cycle of land grabbing. Nevertheless, this literature has overlooked landholders’ acceptance of wind energy. This paper aims to address this gap and argues that the main driver of the land grabbing process is land rent. The paper draws on recent insights from political ecology that highlight that the commodification of nature is predicated on rent. The paper uses the notion of value grabbing to look at the social struggles over property rights in the Isthmus and the conflicts for the increase and distribution of rents from wind energy.
The Regulation and Policy of Latin American Energy Transitions
Abstract Energy transitions are complex undertakings that encompass techno-economic features as w... more Abstract Energy transitions are complex undertakings that encompass techno-economic features as well as social aspects. However, policymakers tend to overlook the latter and privilege the former. This omission has vast implications on the energy system, such as the opposition to the deployment of wind or solar farms, and other energy facilities by sectors of the local population that face disenfranchisement. This chapter sets out Mexico’s regulatory policy in this subject and the ways in which the legal instrument ruling the energy transition has incorporated social aspects. It elaborates on the influence of grassroots movements in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in highlighting the importance of inclusion of local population to achieve just energy transitions. The chapter seeks to understand the ways in which top-down public policies are modified by bottom-up social movements.
Competition & Change, 2021
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca is the first region in Mexico with a large-scale wind energy... more The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca is the first region in Mexico with a large-scale wind energy development. The region holds 60% of the country’s installed capacity, but the new infrastructure has faced opposition from sectors of the local population concerned about wind farms’ social and
environmental impacts. The opposition and ensuing conflicts have been widely studied; some of these studies have framed wind energy as part of the recent cycle of land grabbing. Nevertheless, this literature has overlooked landholders’ acceptance of wind energy. This paper aims to address
this gap and argues that the main driver of the land grabbing process is land rent. The paper draws on recent insights from political ecology that highlight that the commodification of nature is predicated on rent. The paper uses the notion of value grabbing to look at the social struggles over property rights in the Isthmus and the conflicts for the increase and distribution of rents from wind energy.
Perspectivas Energéticas, 2018
La Ley de la Industria Eléctrica de 2014 incorpora la obligatoriedad de consultar a comunidades d... more La Ley de la Industria Eléctrica de 2014 incorpora la obligatoriedad de consultar a comunidades donde se ubiquen los proyectos de generación eléctrica. La consulta y el consentimiento previo, libre e informado están relacionados con el respeto y observancia de derechos humanos; sin embargo, la consulta es un proceso eminentemente político en el que se encuentran actores diversos, con intereses disímiles y a menudo en un contexto de alta conflictividad. En este trabajo se hará una breve reflexión sobre la dimensión política de la consulta a partir del análisis de algunos elementos del proceso de consulta en Juchitán durante 2014-2015.
Book chapters by Lourdes Alonso
Huatulco Espacio y Tiempo, 2017
En el presente trabajo se da cuenta de los procesos que han llevado a la producción del sector H3... more En el presente trabajo se da cuenta de los procesos que han llevado a la producción del sector H3 en el Centro Integralmente Planeado Huatulco. El H3 se construye como resultado de la exclusión del mercado inmobiliario, de la omisión de las instancias de gobierno en la planeación y desarrollo de vivienda de bajo costo, y de la corrupción que ha permitido hacer jugosos negocios y fraudes inmobiliarios al amparo del poder.
Book chapter by Lourdes Alonso
The Regulación and Policy of Latin American Energy Transitions, 2020
Energy transitions are complex undertakings that encompass techno-economic features as well as so... more Energy transitions are complex undertakings that encompass techno-economic features as well as social aspects. However, policy makers tend to overlook the latter, and privilege the former. This omission has vast implications on the energy system, such as the opposition to the deployment of wind or solar farms, and other energy facilities by sectors of the local population that face disenfranchisement. This chapter sets out Mexico’s regulatory policy in this subject and the ways in which the legal instrument ruling the energy transition has incorporated social aspects. It elaborates on the influence of grassroots movements in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in highlighting the importance of inclusion of local population to achieve just energy transitions. The chapter seeks to understand the ways in which top-down public policies are modified by bottom-up social movements.
Labouring Urban Infrastructures. A digital magazine, 2019
This short paper was written for the workshop on 'Labouring Urban Infrastructures' that took plac... more This short paper was written for the workshop on 'Labouring Urban Infrastructures' that took place in Durham (UK) on June 6-7, 2019. The workshop brought together scholars for an open- ended discussion around labour, infrastructure, and the city.
The paper reflects on the failed expectactation that wind energy would provide long-term jobs to the local population in the municipalices of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec where wind farms locate.
Megaproyectos en México. Una lectura crítica , 2016
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Papers by Lourdes Alonso
environmental impacts. The opposition and ensuing conflicts have been widely studied; some of these studies have framed wind energy as part of the recent cycle of land grabbing. Nevertheless, this literature has overlooked landholders’ acceptance of wind energy. This paper aims to address
this gap and argues that the main driver of the land grabbing process is land rent. The paper draws on recent insights from political ecology that highlight that the commodification of nature is predicated on rent. The paper uses the notion of value grabbing to look at the social struggles over property rights in the Isthmus and the conflicts for the increase and distribution of rents from wind energy.
Book chapters by Lourdes Alonso
Book chapter by Lourdes Alonso
The paper reflects on the failed expectactation that wind energy would provide long-term jobs to the local population in the municipalices of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec where wind farms locate.
environmental impacts. The opposition and ensuing conflicts have been widely studied; some of these studies have framed wind energy as part of the recent cycle of land grabbing. Nevertheless, this literature has overlooked landholders’ acceptance of wind energy. This paper aims to address
this gap and argues that the main driver of the land grabbing process is land rent. The paper draws on recent insights from political ecology that highlight that the commodification of nature is predicated on rent. The paper uses the notion of value grabbing to look at the social struggles over property rights in the Isthmus and the conflicts for the increase and distribution of rents from wind energy.
The paper reflects on the failed expectactation that wind energy would provide long-term jobs to the local population in the municipalices of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec where wind farms locate.