China ahead in renewable energy
photo by jeancliclac (source: Flickr Creative Commons)
While the United States and other countries offer incentives for development in the renewable energy industry, China passes laws that require it. A New York Times article highlights the ways in which China is beating the pants off other nations when it comes to making clean energy. For example, China now leads the world in the manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines. The state funded Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association claims that renewable energy jobs in China increase by around 100,000 a year.
These efforts to dominate renewable energy technologies raise the prospect that the West may someday trade its dependence on oil from the Mideast for a reliance on solar panels, wind turbines and other gear manufactured in China.
–New York Times
The main thrust of the renewable energy industry in China is not to transform the country into a green paradise, but keep it on track to becoming the world’s premier economic superpower. By 2020 the vast amount of power in China will still be generated by coal, nuclear and hydro. But an intended jump from current levels of wind, solar and biomass energy of less than 4% ¬– an equal share to that of the United States – to 8% is a sizable increase. This can be achieved through massive state-backed investment, laws enforcing the use of renewable energy by grid operators and generous subsidies for consumers.
China also intends to dominate the export market for energy equipment. Danish wind power giant Vestas has recently built the largest wind turbine factory in the world in northeastern China. Already low domestic wages contribute to the advantage of Chinese energy product exports as manufacturing prices continue to fall.
China Dialogue features a nice summary of the current state of environmental affairs in China, gathering recent stories from the BBC, the Guardian, Reuters and China Daily among others. Pollution and climate change concerns as well as human and animal rights round out the issues dominating China’s environmental news.
by Graham Land
Additional resources:
MSNBC Interview with Thomas Friedman: Copenhagen ‘an unprecedented breakdown’
Graham Land grew up in Washington, D.C., where he was part of the local hardcore punk scene. Through this unique musical movement he became involved in grass roots anti-racist activism, animal rights and Ecology. Since 2000 Graham has lived in Europe, earning an MA in history from Malmö University in Sweden and working as a musician, English teacher, sports therapist, customer service agent and writer. Graham has a podcast with author Saci Lloyd and is currently pretending to work on his first novel.
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Tags: China, environment, New York Times, panels, power, renewable energy, Solar, turbine, wind
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