Abstract

MEKAOUI, Amina El  and  BANOS RAMIREZ, Othón. The Mexican Energy Transition in a Mayan Community: The Case of San José Tipceh, Yucatán. Región y sociedad [online]. 2021, vol.33, e1417.  Epub Sep 20, 2021. ISSN 2448-4849.  https://doi.org/10.22198/rys2021/33/1417.

Objective: to illustrate the exercise of power and its counterweights among the actors involved -the company promoting the project, the federal government and the community members, especially the ejido members- during the implementation of a renewable energy megaproject in the Mayan community of San José Tipceh, Muna, Yucatán. Methodology: a multi-focal and multi-technical ethnography was carried out throughout six months, gathering the testimony of various participants: key figures in the community, ejido members with agrarian rights and residents who did not form the ejidal nucleus. Results: the issue of ejido lands was devalued and managed behind the community's back until the federal government intervened to apply the corresponding law. The legal process led to the defense of the environment and the empowerment of community residents. Limitations: since each implementation experience involves different variants and nuances, it is necessary to say that the analyzed case is not a representative sample. Value: the case of San José Tipceh allows understanding the benefits and limitations of the Mexican energy transition at a local scale. Conclusions: there is a need of sustainable implementation for this type of projects taking into account the wellbeing of the actors involved and that they should be in an equal position of power.

Keywords : Community; energy economics; Mayans; energy policy; Yucatán; Mexico.

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