Mexico looks beyond oil and toward the wind

Turbines pop up with Spanish investment, but some locals have complaints

LA VENTOSA, Mexico – Mexico inaugurated one of the world’s largest wind farm projects on Thursday as the nation looks for alternative energy, in part to compensate for falling oil production.

Mexico is trying to exploit its rich wind and solar potential after relying almost exclusively on petroleum for decades. With oil production down by 9.2 percent in 2008, Mexico now is turning to foreign companies, mainly Spanish, to tap its renewable riches.

“If we don’t do something about this problem of climate change it probably could become