Sun-captured city: Extreme heat and subsidised solar in Mexicali
Subsidised power is tackling energy poverty and health risks for some of northern Mexico’s most vulnerable city dwellers The post Sun-captured city: Extreme heat and subsidised solar in Mexicali appeared first on Dialogue Earth .
Mexicali, a desert city in Mexico bordering the US, is known as the "city that captured the sun." Yolanda Hernández lives with her partner and 21-year-old son Angel, who has a developmental delay. They reside in the low-income Ángeles de Puebla neighborhood. The family struggles with high electricity bills, averaging MXN 3,000 (USD 177) per month, making it difficult to afford other essential living expenses.
Hernández signed up for the Solar Roofs for Wellbeing programme, which offers subsidies for solar panel installations in homes with vulnerable members. After the installation, her electricity bills dropped to MXN 500-1,000 a month. The programme has benefited 5,134 families in Mexicali and San Felipe since its launch in March 2025, reducing their annual electricity expenditure by up to 60%, with savings of up to 85% during peak consumption months.
However, advocates argue that more measures, like increased energy bill subsidies and newer energy-efficient appliances, are needed to fully address energy poverty.
Written by urgent.news from Dialogue Earth's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
