After seventy years of state ownership, the Mexican government has amended its constitution to open the energy sector to private investment. This amendment also allows for foreign participation, which would include firms from Denver. It should come as no surprise, then, the Biennial of the Americas chose the Executive Director of the Global Energy Management program, Jim Marchiori, as one of 80 delegates from Denver to attend an energy symposium in Mexico City.

Marchiori was not the only delegate from CU Denver’s GEM program at the event. Ricardo Bracho, Senior Program Manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, graduated from the GEM program in 2010. Tanya Kelly-Bowry, the Vice President for Government Relations at the University of Colorado also attended.

“I have to tell you that I was really proud to have GEM so prominently represented in a group like this,” reflected Marchiori.

Bracho and Marchiori participated in the workshop Balancing Energy Production and Environmental Protection, essentially a broad look at managing energy development in Mexico. The group made many business connections and ideas, in addition to developing a realistic look of what Mexico should expect to experience over the next several years.

“I was struck by the commitment on the Mexican side to environmental protection,” said Marchiori, “and by their interest in the social issues we face in Colorado, especially on unconventional development.”

To find out more about his experience, check out Jim Marchiori’s blog.

The Denver Post has an informative article about the symposium.