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China ahead of USA in race to provide millions of renewable energy jobs

“They’re doing this because they really want to be the world’s supplier of clean energy and they recognise this will support millions of jobs.”

China is green, US sees red, Khaleej Times, Michael Richardson10 January 2011 China is rapidly becoming a global colossus in renewable energy as it seeks to reduce reliance on polluting fossil fuels and establish itself as the top clean-power manufacturer and exporter. The US government has belatedly recognised the challenge and in December convened the first meeting of a high-powered private-sector advisory committee charged with developing a clean-energy export-expansion plan. At the same time, the US Export-Import Bank announced increased financing for “green” exports, about US$500 million for the next fiscal year.

The US is destined to lose this battle for dominance if Congress refuses to pass an energy policy. As part of a compromise on the US tax bill, lawmakers agreed on December 17 to extend a tax-credit scheme for another year, offering developers of wind, solar and other renewables grants worth up to 30 per cent of development costs………

But America needs a more coordinated approach if it’s to compete with China in clean-energy manufacturing and exports. A study published by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center found that, unlike industrialised countries, China and most other major emerging economies coordinate and support energy R&D through government-owned enterprises. The study covered Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. By some estimates, investments in renewable-energy assets may total $2.3 trillion by 2020, yielding increased jobs and exports as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, for countries that harness green technology. On December 7, frustrated US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke told the first meeting of the task force that China pumps almost $12 billion monthly into its renewable-energy sector: “They’re doing this because they really want to be the world’s supplier of clean energy and they recognise this will support millions of jobs.”
China’s rise in key sectors of the green-energy business has been breathtaking. In 1999, China made around 1 per cent of the photovoltaic cells put into solar panels to generate electricity. A decade later it’s the world’s leading producer, with a 40 per cent share of the market……..
A recent survey by Bloomberg, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, found that China became the largest recipient of renewable-energy financing in 2009, attracting more than 20 per cent of the $162 billion invested worldwide in wind, solar, biomass, small hydro, biofuel and marine energy. While such investment in China grew by 53 per cent, it shrank in the US by 45 per cent….

China is green, US sees red

January 10, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, employment, renewable