Business Facilities - November 2007 - (Page 31)

METRO SPOTLIGHT Mexico-Texas Border Region By Pearl Gabel THE MEXICO-TEXAS BORDER REGION Population of Texas (2006): 23,507,783 Population of Mexico (2007): 108,700,891 Length of the Texas-Mexico Border: 1,240 miles Length of the U.S.-Mexico Border: 1,969 miles Bordering Sister Cities: El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, MX; Presidio, TX and Ojinaga, MX; Del Rio, TX and Ciudad Acuna, MX; Laredo, TX and Nuevo Laredo, MX; McAllen, TX and Reynosa, MX; Progreso Lakes, TX and Nuevo Progreso, MX; Brownsville, TX and Matamoros, MX CROSS-BORDER ELECTRIC I n September, McAllen, TXbased Sharyland Utilities LP unveiled its new $40 million, 150-megawatt Voltage Direct Current (DC) Tie project. Located along the Rio Grande border near Mission, TX, the DC Tie links the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad grid of Mexico. This cross-border tie is the first of its kind to support both emergency power and commercial business activity in Texas and Mexico. Its technology will allow the two-way flow of electricity between both grids, allowing each grid to rely on the other during times of peak demand. “This DC Tie is an energy bridge between our two great nations, and we hope it is one of many to come,” said Hunter Hunt, president of Sharyland Utilities, L.P., at the ceremonial commissioning event for the DC Tie project held at the Sharyland Plantation in Mission. “Sharyland Utilities is strongly committed to the border and to the utility industry, and today’s ceremony marks a milestone in our continued efforts to provide needed infrastructure and innovative solutions not just for the border region, but for the Texas grid as a whole.” BORDER EXPRESS A PHOTO CREDIT: RIO GRANDE, MIKE NORTON/WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; MAP, CARTESIA SOFTWARE veritt Express recently made it easier for its customers to ship to and from Mexico with the opening of its new 30,000-square-foot distribution facility at the Capote International Business Park in Pharr, TX—less than a mile from the Pharr Reynosa International Bridge and only four miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. “The new Supply Chain Solutions facility … positions Averitt to be the prime consolidation gateway for vendors shipping to and from Mexico or anywhere in the world,” says Calvin Rackley, regional vice president for Averitt. “It’s great having one of the leading transportation providers so close to the Pharr Bridge,” says Jesse J. Medina, Pharr International Bridge Director. “This will allow both Averitt and the Pharr International Bridge to work together in accessing more commercial trade to and from Mexico.” BUSINESS FACILITIES 31

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Business Facilities - November 2007 Contents First Words Snapshots Metro Spotlight: Indianapolis Region, Indiana Georgia's Pursuit of Industry Extreme Technology Sites A Tennessee Trifecta A Watershed Moment for Philly Metro Spotlight: Mexico-Texas Border Region High Tech and Aerospace Heat up in Arizona Meeting the Information Technology Challenge IEDC Announces 2007 Winners Corporate Moves: Alabama Northeast Arkansas Scores Major Investments Corporate Moves: Virginia Metro Spotlight: Martinsville-Henry County, VA Renewable Michigan Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - November 2007

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