Print this pageAAPG ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Making the Next Giant Leap in Geosciences
April 10-13, 2011, Houston, Texas, USA
Natural Security: Border Region Renewable 
Energy
and Strategic Mineral Opportunities
(1) The Aerospace Corporation, Arlington, VA.
(2) Clear Creek Associates, Tucson, AZ.
The international boundary between the US and Mexico is often overlooked as a region with significant economic potential. Instead, the border has become a self fulfilling prophecy of crime and poverty. The Border Region Renewable Energy Corridor provides a means to enhance situational awareness by co-locating surveillance technology with renewable energy infrastructure. Large utility scale renewable energy facilities can generate revenue, jobs and hope in a region that is ready to rebuild and prosper.
This presentation will focus on opportunities for exploiting renewable energy and mineral resources along the international border in southeastern California. The discussion will explore how national security and economic exploitation of renewable energy resources are not mutually exclusive. In addition to producing solar and geothermal energy, the Corridor has significant economic potential for mineral extraction from geothermal well brines - if certain technical challenges can be addressed.
While similar to the more established Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) concept, the Border Region Renewable Energy Corridor concept emphasizes the integration of surveillance technologies into its design and operational plans. The Corridor can enhance situational awareness along the border, establish over 800 Megawatts of clean energy
, and establish a clean source for strategic and economic minerals - such as lithium, gold, silver, zinc, and magnesium.