China's energy plan

Today, China is the world's largest producer of solar panels and wind turbines.  Compared to the United States, China invested twice the amount in renewable energy technology last year.  This is all in an effort to become more self sufficient.  China plans to maintain a high rate of economic growth and energy use and thus the government feels pressure to secure energy sources within China's border.

China is proposing a law (likely to be passed next year) that will encourage most of the energy to come from within the country, rather than importing it from neighbors.  While this may be applauded by alternative energy supporters around the globe, one must be wary of other implications of this law.

China has the third largest coal reserves in the world, behind the US and Russia.  Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, yet China will continue to burn coal to sustain economic growth.  The gains made by China in the renewable energy sector may very well be dampened by the increasing use of coal. 

Obama envisions a future of renewable energy and energy independence for the US, both to combat global warming and increase national security.  In contrast, global warming is only of tertiary importance to the Chinese government.  We can expect pollution to increase from China, even as they do make strides in the renewable energy sector.  Hopefully, organizations here in the Northwest can use technology developed by the Chinese to work towards sustainability at home.

More information can be found at The New York Times.