AS+Linda-Lali

2A: Lalita Devadas -- lalita.devadas@gmail.com 2N: Linda Gong -- lindazgong@gmail.com

=Plan Text=

The United States federal government should substantially increase renewable energy assistance to Mexico.

=Relations= Advantage one is relations

Energy cooperation is key to a SUSTAINABLE partnership – boosts regional economy, solves Mexican violence and reverses Latin anti-US sentiment (Raul, April, "Opinion: President Obama has the chance to improve US/Mexico relations," http://nbclatino.com/2013/04/29/opinion-president-obama-has-the-chance-to-improve-usmexico-relations/)//BB// //Obama will arrive in Mexico with good and bad news. On the positive side// //AND// //foreign policy with Mexico based on its potential, not on its problems.//
 * Reyes 13** – JD, member of the USA Today Board of Contributors

Thinking BEYOND security is key – energy cooperation overcomes alternate impediments and creates a resilient partnership //The U.S.-Mexico relationship is ready for renewed collaboration on a range// //AND// //of the United States~’ most important and strategic allies in ¶ the hemisphere.//
 * Miller and DeLeon 9** - Stephanie, consultant on U.S.-Latin America relations and was formerly the Research Associate for the Americas Project on the National Security Team. Born in Venezuela with family from Colombia, Miller earned her degree from Duke University in International Comparative Studies with a focus on Latin America. She currently lives in Bogotá, Colombia, Rudy, Senior Vice President of National Security and International Policy at American Progress("Transcending the Rio Grande," http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/04/pdf/mexico.pdf)BB

SEQUENCING is vital – CLIMATE cooperation FIRST spills over to the rest of relations (Robert, "U.S.-Mexico Cooperation on Renewable Energy: Building a Green Agenda," http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/us-mexico-cooperation-renewable-energy-building-green-agenda)//BB// //Discussant Johanna Mendelson Forman stressed the linkages connecting climate change, energy, and economic// //AND// //S. companies suffer from a lack of adequate export-import financing.//
 * Donnelly 10** – Program Associate, Mexico Institute @ Wilson Center

Only Obama solves – reverses Anti-US sentiment throughout Latin America (Robert, "U.S. and Latin America: Economic Cooperation without Militarization?," http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2013/05/20/us-and-latin-america-economic-cooperation-without-militarization)BB //In May, President Barack Obama visited Mexico and Costa Rica and vowed to strengthen// //AND// //Latin American countries will forge ahead with economic and security integration amongst themselves.//
 * Valencia 13** - New York-based political analyst and is a contributing writer for Global Voices Online

US-Mexico climate cooperation prevents Latin skirmishes from escalating to war (Tom, "Changing Perspectives on US-Mexico Relations," http://truth-out.org/news/item/16221-changing-perspectives-on-us-mexico-relations)//BB// //It~’s unfortunate that the two presidents chose to hold their May 2-3 summit// //AND// //and part of the larger North American community with shared interests and responsibilities.//
 * Barry 13** – senior policy analyst at the Center for International Policy, where he directs the TransBorder project, he specializes in immigration policy, homeland security, border security and the outsourcing of national security, has authored or co-authored more than twenty books on Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, food aid, the United Nations, free trade and U.S. foreign policy

Latin American wars go global (James, Professor of Political Science at Okanagan University College, Discovering the Americas: the evolution of Canadian foreign policy towards Latin America, pp. 130-131//)//BB //While there were economic motivations for Canadian policy in Central America, security considerations were// //AND// //, such as Contadora, as will be discussed in the next chapter.//
 * Rochin 94** – Professor of Political Science

Relations solve border terrorism and drug networks //Sharing a 2,000-mile border and extensive interconnections through the Gulf of// //AND// //, and border, terrorism,¶ health, environment, and energy issues.//
 * Storrs 6** (K. Larry Storrs, Specialist in Latin American Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of CRS, 1/18/2006 "Mexico~’s Importance and Multiple Relationships with the United States", [])//JG//

The impact is an attack on US soil (Michael, "A LINE IN THE SAND: COUNTERING CRIME, VIOLENCE AND TERROR AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER," UNITED STATES HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, Lexis)BB //Terrorism remains a serious threat to the security of the United States. The Congressional// //AND// //on U.S. soil ¶ into a weapon of mass destruction.//
 * McCaul 12** – JD @ St. Mary~’s, former federal prosecutor

US will preemptively retaliate against Russia and China (Robert, "After a Terrorist Nuclear Attack: Envisaging Catalytic Effects," Studies in Conflict %26 Terrorism, 33.7, InformaWorld)//BB //But these two nuclear worlds—a non-state actor nuclear attack and a// //AND// //be admitted that any preemption would probably still meet with a devastating response.//
 * Ayson 10** - Professor of Strategic Studies and Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand at the Victoria University of Wellington

=Economy= Advantage two is the economy

Independently, a US economic crisis is coming //Despite its many virtues, however, the book paints an overly optimistic portrait of// //AND// //States is likely to suffer another major economic crisis in the years ahead.//
 * DeLong 13** - Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a Visiting Fellow at the Kauffman Foundation (J. Bradford, "The Second Great Depression: Why the Economic Crisis is Worse Than You Think", July/August 2013 Foreign Affairs)//Beddow//

Competiveness is declining and that damages the economy //As we argue in our book "Innovation Economics: the Race for Global Advantage// //AND// //wage growth and higher unemployment rates. Just what America is facing today.//
 * Atkinson 12** – president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, former member of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, Vice President of the Progressive Policy Institute, director of its Technology and New Economy Project (Robert, "Does the U.S. Economy Compete with Other Economies?", 10/22/12; < http://www.innovationfiles.org/does-the-u-s-economy-compete-with-other-economies/>)Beddow

Latin energy connectivity is key to growth ("An action plan for US policy in the Americas," December, http://www.aei.org/outlook/foreign-and-defense-policy/regional/latin-america/an-action-plan-for-us-policy-in-the-americas/)//BB// //Key points in this Outlook:// //America~’s economic crisis and threats to US security have undermined its traditional global-leadership// //AND// //its own hemisphere. A prosperous hemisphere means a more prosperous United States.//
 * Noriega and Cardenas 12** – *Former US State Dept Official, director with Vision Americas

US growth solves great power war (Zalmay Khalilzad was the United States ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Nations during the presidency of George W. Bush and the director of policy planning at the Defense Department from 1990 to 1992. "The Economy and National Security" Feb 8 http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/259024/economy-and-national-security-zalmay-khalilzad)BB //Today, economic and fiscal trends pose the most severe long-term threat to// //AND// //, hostile states would be emboldened to make aggressive moves in their regions.//
 * Khalilzad 11** – PhD, Former Professor of Political Science @ Columbia, Former ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan

And, a weak economy causes conflict – empirics prove //Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict// //AND// //such, the view presented here should be considered ancillary to those views.//
 * Royal 10** – Jedediah Royal, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, (Economic Integration, Economic Signaling and the Problem of Economic Crises, Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, ed. Goldsmith and Brauer, p. 213-215)

Renewable integration key to meet US energy demands (Duncan, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf)//BB// //The need for integration of North American renewable energy markets is real and immediate.// //AND// //relatively low-cost supply from its wind energy farms in the north.//
 * Wood 10** – PhD in Political Studies @ Queen~’s, Professor @ ITAM in Mexico City

Mexican economy~’s low now //In the first quarter, GDP increased 0.8% over the same quarter// //AND// //year, the panel expects growth to pick up to 4.0%.//
 * Focus Economics 6/19** (6/19/13, "Economic growth slows down markedly in first quarter", http://www.focus-economics.com/en/economy/news/Mexico-GDP_Type-Economic_growth_slows_down_markedly_in_first_quarter-2013-06-19)lm (the country being described is Mexico)

Recessions lock nations in a self-reinforcing death spiral to war. //The unfolding global economic crisis is expected to bring the world economy into recession in// //AND// //on the relations hip between economic shocks as drivers of conflict is mixed.//
 * Conceição and Kim 10** – Director of the Office of Development Studies at UNPD, assistant professor at the Technical University of Lisbon, degrees in Physics and Economics from the Technical University of Lisbon and PhD in Public Policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin / Office of Development Studies UNDP (Pedro and Namsuk, "The Economic Crisis, Violent Conflict, and Human Development", International Journal of Peace Studies, V.15 No. 1, Spring/Summer 2010; [])//Beddow//

Mexican growth is key to the US economy. //As Congress crafts comprehensive immigration legislation, Democrats and Republicans must keep in mind that// //AND// //are sailing through under the umbrella of the Pact for Mexico political agreement.//
 * Marczak 4/18** ­ - director of policy at Americas Society and Council of the Americas, senior editor of the AS/COA policy journal, Americas Quarterly, and managing editor of AQ Online (Jason, "Immigration Reform get U.S. in on Mexico~’s Boom", 4/18/13; < http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/opinion/marczak-immigration-the-new-mexico>)Beddow

Mexico needs an energy transition to avoid economic collapse //Mexico~’s long-term economic recovery and stability partially depend upon what happens in the// //AND// //that they do little to help the company address its major challenges.42//
 * Villarreal 12** (M. Angeles Villarreal, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, 8/9/12, "U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications", Congressional Research Service, [])

FDI enhances economic productivity //Still, to the extent that policy makers care about industry and aggregate eﬀects of// //AND// //wage changes and I have not accounted for those in the empirical analysis.¶//
 * Waldkirch 8** (Andreas Waldkirch, degree in economics, "The Effects of Foreign Direct Investment¶ in Mexico since NAFTA", Munich Personal RePEc Archive, http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/7975/1/MPRA_paper_7975.pdf)//lm//

FDI supports Mexico~’s manufacturing sector //Newly available data for the 653 industries in Mexico~’s manufacturing sector make possible a ¶// //AND// //. Inflows fell constantly – even registering some negative figures — after 2002.//
 * Peters 8** (Enrique Dussel Peters, BA and MA in Political Science at the Free University of ¶ Berlin (1989) and PhD in Economics at the University of Notre Dame, full time professor at the Graduate School of Economics at Universidad Autónoma ¶ Nacional de México, "The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment ¶ in Mexico", April 2008, http://ase.tufts.edu/gdae/Pubs/rp/DP11Dussel%20PetersApr08.pdf)lm

Mexican-US trade promotes POSITIVE-SUM economic gains (Christopher, "Working Together," Mexico Institute @ Woodrow Institute, Scholar)//BB //Mexico and the United States are no longer distant neighbors whose economies are engaged in// //AND// //S. policy attention to support Mexico~’s efforts to strengthen its economic future.//
 * Wilson 11** – MA in International Affairs @ American U, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he develops the Institute~’s research and programming on regional economic integration and U.S.-Mexico border affairs

=Solvency= Finally – solvency

Outside assistance is necessary – limited resources ("Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Transportation: Project Opportunities in the U.S. – Mexico Border Region," http://www.cocef.org/Eng/VLibrary/Publications/SpecialReports/BECC%20WP%20%20Nov%202011%20index.pdf)//BB// //One of the largest challenges for any local entity responsible for mitigation and ¶ adaptation// //AND// //that means for ¶ border communities are – limited resources equal limited opportunities.//
 * COCEF 12** - La Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza

US financing and expertise is key (Duncan, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf)BB //Over the last 15 years, contributions by United States government agencies to the development// //AND// //sector as it is currently¶ comparatively stagnated due to lack of funds.//
 * Wood 10** – PhD in Political Studies @ Queen~’s, Professor @ ITAM in Mexico City

Government-to-government is key (Duncan, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, http://www.statealliancepartnership.org/resources_files/USMexico_Cooperation_Renewable_Energies.pdf)//BB// //This report argues that US involvement in the Mexican renewable energy sector has paid substantial// //AND// //renewable energy sector holds enormous potential to contribute even more in the future.//
 * Wood 10** – PhD in Political Studies @ Queen~’s, Professor @ ITAM in Mexico City

Mexico supports investment //Investors seeking opportunities in renewable energy¶ outside the United States should consider our¶// //AND// //government¶ to look favorably on foreign investment in renewable¶ energy projects.//
 * World Energy 8** (Allan T. Marks, "Mexico Offers Diverse Opportunities for Investment in Renewable Energy", http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ipe2012/files/0208_mexico_offers_diverse_opportunities_world_energy.pdf)lm

Federal action is key – must be a coordinated and comprehensive strategy (Omar, et al, Wilson Center, http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Border_Biofuel_Romero.pdf)//BB// //The growing potential for renewable energy ¶ (RE) exports from Mexico to the// //AND// //both integrate ¶ these efforts and identify the most effective ¶ paths forward.//
 * Romero-Hernandez 12** – Professor @ Berkeley, PhD in Process Economics and Environmental Impact from Imperial College, London, UK

US technical assistance is key AND THE CARIBBEAN, HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, [], JMP) //More broadly, the United States has a strategic interest in working with willing nations// //AND// //our technical assistance to improve the investment climate and the rule of law.//
 * Farnsworth, 13** —- vice president of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society (4/11/2013, Eric, "ENERGY SECURITY OPPORTUNITIES IN LATIN AMERICA

US aid to Mexico is high //¶ Haiti, Colombia, and Mexico have been the top regional recipients of U// //AND// //57% of all aid to the region (see Table 2 below)//
 * Meyer and Sullivan 12** (Peter J. Meyer Analyst in Latin American Affairs, Mark P. Sullivan Specialist in Latin American Affairs "U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2013 Appropriations", June 26, 2012, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42582.pdf, A.S.)

US Federal action is key – agency oversight AND S. Environmental Protection Agency by Executive Order 12916 on May 13, 1994 ("The Potential Environmental and Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy Development in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region," http://www.epa.gov/ofacmo/gneb/gneb14threport/English-GNEB-14th-Report.pdf) BB //Several U.S. federal agencies play a role in regulating and promoting renewable// //AND// //All of these agencies also must comply with NEPA and implement executive orders.//
 * GNEB 11** – Good Neighbor Environmental Board, The Good Neighbor Environmental Board was created