During the inauguration of the González Ortega Combined Cycle Power Plant in Mexicali, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly commended Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda for her leadership and dedication to the state.
The event also served as a platform to highlight the growing role of women in Mexico’s energy sector. Sheinbaum acknowledged the contributions of Luz Elena González, Secretary of Energy, and Emilia Calleja, the first woman to serve as director of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). The president praised Calleja as a leader who “started from the bottom” and has since risen to become a key figure in the country’s energy landscape.
“She is doing a great job at the helm of Baja California, and we care for her very much,” Sheinbaum said, addressing the state governor directly in her remarks.
Sheinbaum closed her speech with a broader appeal for greater recognition of women’s achievements across all sectors of Mexican society.
The newly inaugurated González Ortega plant marks a significant step forward in Mexico’s transition toward cleaner energy.
Operating on natural gas, the facility generates electricity far more efficiently than traditional plants, allowing for increased output with a considerably lower environmental footprint.
Furthermore, the plant is expected to gradually replace older, more polluting facilities that rely on heavy fossil fuels. The move aligns with the federal government’s broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the decarbonization of the national electricity grid.
