On this episode of the MODERN MEXICO PODCAST, host Nathaniel Parish Flannery talks about Mexico's solar energy sector with Diego Rivera Rivota, a Research Associate at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

Mexico is one of the best potential locations for solar energy generation in the world—it has great sun with minimal seasonal variability. Overall, Mexico is well-positioned to produce competitively priced solar-generated electricity.

Over the last decade, Mexico has successfully attracted billions of dollars in new investment in solar energy. Over the last few years, Mexico's wind and solar energy production, as a share of total electricity generated, has quadrupled.

But, investment in solar energy has stalled during the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a controversial populist.

Diego describes Mexican President Lopez Obrador's attitude towards renewable energy as "nationalistic, hostile, and backwards."

Overall, he gives Lopez Obrador an "F" for his solar energy policies.

"Given the stagnant result of renewable energy development I’m afraid I can only give an 'F' to this government’s energy policy in terms of renewable development. Not only has it failed to promote and increase investment in renewable energy, but the policies implemented by this government have actively undermined the development of these projects. This has meant a lost opportunity for new projects, solar panels, wind farms, but also an overall higher cost of electricity," Diego says.

Mexico still has a chance to become a solar energy super power, but to realize its potential, it needs remove obstacles and attract funding for new projects.