Comments on: More Investments in Renewables in China Than in US and Europe Combined

By: SolidApollo

SolidApollo — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:33:16 +0000

Yes, but we cant ask a nation that is in mid industrialization to cut down on contaminants. For the USA its very easy to do so as it is in its post industrial time.

Peak Oil is coming our way, with increase fuel costs.

By: Johnson Protsman

Johnson Protsman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:56:25 +0000

By: Elemental LED staff

Elemental LED staff — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:38:48 +0000

It’s beginning to sound like China’s efforts are creating competition with ours, which will be helpful to our own efforts. One of the things the Chinese seem to have realized and put into practice (and we haven’t) is that there’s money to be saved and made by implementing things like Combined Heat & Power systems. The battle for conservation needn’t be fought ideologically at all when everyone stands to benefit in concrete, material ways.

By: Susan Kraemer

Susan Kraemer — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:14:34 +0000

@Roger, you have some errors in assumptions:Cap and trade costs polluters, not the government, so that would reduce the $11 trillion govt debt run up by Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and the unfunded two wars per old news from 2008.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-4486228-500803.html

Now its up to $13 trillion so we’ve added 2 trillion trying to get out of the recession

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored all three climate bills and all 3 reduce the govt debt (because some of the auction funds go to debt reduction) (while most of the funds pay for renewable investment and to reimburse consumers).

CBO: ACES reduced govt debt -$24 billion

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-08-cbo-climate-bill-score/

CBO: CEJAPA reduced govt debt -$21 billion

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=cejapa-auction-revenues-would-creat-2009-12

CBO: APA reduced govt debt -$19 billion

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/115xx/doc11565/AmericanPowerActKerryLtr.pdf

By contrast, energy bills with no polluter-pays (cap and trade) must get paid by the taxpayer instead, so they get poor CBO scores, meaning they will cost ‘govt’ (us).

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/02/04/energy-only-bill-got-a-failing-score-from-cbo/

By: Roger L

Roger L — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:19:24 +0000

Susan:

Could it be China feels bold and inventive because their economy is still growing, they have loads of cash and almost no debt?? Most likely they will leverage this position into further growth and a lead in renewable production and expansion while still leading in the building of new coal plants and nuclear facilities. Even more interesting and you note it, the Chinese are stimulating private market forces to take the lead (i.e capitalism at its most forceful and useful strengths).

Tough to see how we can do as much with a government debt heading toward 20 trillion and policies like cap and trade that would have added to that debt on the public side. Couple market uncertainty based on government policies clearly NOT pro business (think additional health expense burdens, the clear hint of more taxes (both personal and business) and its a wonder more money is not sitting on the sidelines in this country. Now if we can incrementally stimulate the public market forces as you so example above, feed in tariffs, you must by renewables etc. we might just work back into our strengths (free market forces, out side of the box thinking etc.) and get where we need to be on both renewable production, environmental protection and possibly even lessening of foreign oil purchases.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:53:26 +0000

great post, Susan. it seems like every time i turn around China has done something else on this front. really moving things forward.

By: Paul Obembe

Paul Obembe — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:38:32 +0000

In the interest of Balance, I’d like to add that There is also more investment in Nuclear Power in China than in US and EU combined.

China has (this Month) begun operating an advanced Generation Four Nuclear plant which burns 68-70 percent of the available Uranium fuel, and creates less waste, as opposed to the current nuclear plants which use only 1 percent of the Uranium fuel and wastes the rest as “Waste”.

http://sify.com/news/china-tests-first-fourth-generation-nuclear-reactor-successfully-news-international-khwoadeibhd.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/China-develops-fuel-efficient-nuclear-reactor-report/Article1-576223.aspx