In 1992 a poor area of downtown Guadalajara suffered a major disaster when more than a mile of city sewers exploded as a result of gasoline that had improperly been allowed into the lines. City residents are still in shock over this event, and stories of victims and survivors of this day-the 9/11 of Guadalajara-continue to circulate. As evidence of the shadow of 1992 on public awareness, since 2000, when the federal government issued a franchise to distribute natural gas (by pipeline) to homes and residences, there has been concentrated opposition by municipal and state officials as well as by business concerns associated with the current system that relies on the delivery of LPG canisters by truck.

A paper on "Natural Gas as a Factor of Regional Development," presented at the University of Guadalajara on Aug. 24, 2006, available for free downloading on the Library of this website. In addition, there are commercial reports that bear on the topic of regional energy development.