MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (By Fidencio Casillas, Energy Analytics Institute, 21.Jun.2026, Words: 570) — Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo inaugurated the “González Ortega” combined cycle power plant of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) in Mexicali, Baja California.
The plant will contribute 653 megawatts (MW) to the national electric system to reach the goal of 32,000 MW of new capacity during her 6-year term, with the vision that energy production fulfills 3 fundamental characteristics: guaranteeing national sovereignty, sustainability, and social justice.
Sheinbaum specified that of the 32,000 MW she aims to be added by the end of her administration, 22,000 MW will be from renewable energy sources, in addition to increasing CFE’s share of electricity generation from 54% to 60%.
“This vision that energy production in Mexico must have at least three characteristics: the first is to guarantee national sovereignty; the second is to reduce its environmental impacts, ensuring sustainability; and the third is social justice,” Sheinbaum stated on 21 Jun. 2026 during an event at the plant broadcast on Mexican state television. “All three are essential for the development of the national electricity sector.”
The public enterprise
Sheinbaum highlighted that at the beginning of the second phase of the 4th Transformation, constitutional changes were made to restore CFE’s status as a state public enterprise and guarantee priority in electricity dispatch for all CFE plants over private ones.
The president extended her congratulations to CFE employees on Father’s Day and recognized the women who are currently leading the country’s energy strategy, including the secretary of energy, Luz Elena González Escobar; the director of CFE, Emilia Esther Calleja Alor; the secretary of agrarian, territorial and urban development, Edna Elena Vega Rangel; and the governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, who were present at the inauguration.
“Long live fathers and women!” Sheinbaum added.
Benefits for Baja California
Sheinbaum also announced replacement of 4,000 utility poles to strengthen the energy distribution system in Baja California and reduce service interruptions.
“Having a power generation plant has the advantage of guaranteeing electricity service for Mexicali, both for the businesses in this area and for the residents. And now, I am very pleased because Emilia has already announced the entire Mexicali electricity distribution system will be strengthened. How many poles are there? 4,000 new poles because there are still wooden poles here, so practically all of them will be replaced, which will reduce interruptions. So, it is a great day for Baja California and an extraordinary day, particularly for Mexicali, with the commissioning of this power plant,” she added.
For her part, CFE CEO Calleja Alor explained the addition of 653 MW from the González Ortega combined cycle power plant will generate more than 5,000 gigawatt-hours of energy per year, benefiting Baja California, which experiences a significant increase in electricity consumption during the hottest months.
She also confirmed 500 of the 4,000 utility poles slated for replacement in the state have been replaced.
She emphasized the expansion of transmission networks, the modernization of substations, and the strengthening of infrastructure have allowed for a 30% improvement in the continuity of electricity supply since 2018, resulting in a more stable and reliable service.
For her part, the governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, expressed her gratitude to Sheinbaum for promoting this historic investment in the state’s electricity grid.
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By Fidencio Casillas reporting from Mexico City. © 1999-2026 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.
