Chinese Law Aims to Increase the Use of Renewable Energy

[kristopher]

Chinese Law Aims to Increase the Use of Renewable Energy

By SHAI OSTER

BEIJING -- China announced new regulations to increase the use of renewable energy such as wind and hydropower by forcing electricity-grid operators to prioritize their use, in a bid by the world's top greenhouse-gas emitter to reduce its reliance on coal.

The new measures were passed Saturday by the standing committee of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, as an amendment to the 2006 renewable-energy law, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. The amendment will force powerful state-owned electric grid companies, responsible for distributing electricity from power plants, to buy all the electricity generated from renewable sources even when it is more expensive and more complicated to use than electricity from coal-fired plants.

The new legislation "contributes to the global fight on climate change," said Wang Zhongying, director of the renewable-energy center under a think tank affiliated with China's National Development and Reform Commission, according to Xinhua.

Coal currently accounts for 70% of China's total energy use. China wants to increase use of renewable-energy sources to 15% of its total by 2020, up from 9% last year. The goal is related to a separate target announced by top leader Hu Jintao last month ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit to reduce China's carbon emissions relative to economic output by 40% to 45% from 2005 levels by 2020. The absolute levels of emissions will continue to grow, however, as China's economy expands.

The government's efforts have ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126192809041606467.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

[bananas]

1. k&r nt

[clear eye]

2. K & R

We'll be buying our green tech from them, I guess.

[pscot]

3. I would love to believe this means something

But empty promises abound and there's really no way to verify whether this one, vague as it seems, will be kept

[kristopher]

4. IT isn't a "promise", it is now an established policy.

The significance is that they've set in law that their emerging grid will be designed around noncarbon energy. It is a huge step.

[pscot]

5. China also has a "policy" regarding human rights

From Wikipedia: The Constitution of the People's Republic of China states that the "fundamental rights" of citizens include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to a fair trial, freedom of religion, universal suffrage, and property rights

Practice falls somewhat short of the stated policy. Obviously a forward looking policy on green energy is good international politics. I hope it's more than PR. To be honest, I don't think it makes much difference. Whatever they, or we, or the rest of the world does, I don't believe it will be enough to avert what's coming. But that's just me. You may see it differently.

[kristopher]

6. That is a strange comparison

"human rights" is a nebulous concept loaded with cultural interpretations that often conflict with goals like economic development (nnd not just in China). It is, in short, extremely difficult to define and enforce in practical, day-to-day terms.

What they've done regarding renewables, however, suffers no such ambiguity. It is a simple, direct order that guides a specific process; that is, "in what order does a grid operator select generating sources to fill their power needs?"

The two policies simply can't be compared in the way you have.

Whether it (or anything) is enough or not is an entirely different matter that I don't think anyone can legitimately answer.

[joshcryer]

7. It means exactly what it says it means, their emissions will continue to grow.