Mexico’s environment ministry has opened a public hearing into a controversial US$250 million solar photovoltaic project on the Yucatán peninsula.

Developed by local company ZML Quintana Roo, the 242MW Nicté-Ha power plant will consist of 361,800 bifacial solar panels and new transmission infrastructure.

According to the project’s environmental impact assessment, submitted in March, the developers plan to complete permitting procedures and raise financing by the third quarter of 2029.

Site preparation is scheduled for 2030, with operations expected to begin in 2033.

The project will impact about 431 hectares of forest and has drawn opposition from environmentalists and representatives of the indigenous Maya community in the region.

It is planned near the town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto in Quintana Roo state.

The public consultation will run from October 17 to November 13.

(The original version of this content was written in English)