Chu: America Faces a Choice to “Compete in the Clean Energy Race” or “Wave the White Flag”

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://energy.gov/articles/chu-america-faces-choice-compete-clean-energy-race-or-wave-white-flag

Chu: America Faces a Choice to “Compete in the Clean Energy Race” or “Wave the White Flag”

November 3, 2011 - 10:36am

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his speech to the Washington Post Live Smart Energy Conference today, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu highlighted the choice America faces on whether or not to take advantage of the huge economic opportunity and compete with countries like China in the clean energy race.

Excerpts and full text of remarks are below:

“Once again, there is a huge opportunity before us – a global clean energy market that is already worth an estimated $240 billion and is growing rapidly. In fact, a very reasonable estimate is that solar photovoltaic systems alone represent a global market worth more than $80 billion this year.”

“China – like many countries – has learned from the U.S. how government can support critical emerging industries. Last year, China offered roughly $30 billion in government financing to its solar companies, including $7 billion to Suntech. At least 10 countries have adopted renewable electricity standards, and more than 50 countries offer some type of public financing for clean energy projects. For example, Germany and Canada operate government-backed clean energy lending programs, and in the last several months, the UK, Australia, and India have announced plans to do the same.”

“America faces a choice today: Are we going to recognize the opportunity and compete in the clean energy race or will we wave the white flag and watch all of these jobs go to China, Korea, Germany and other countries?”

…

[hedgehog]

1. I travel overseas for work - I see wind turbines everywhere but here!

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. They’re here, they’re just not as dense

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/04/11/installed-wind-power-capacity-per-capita-country-comparisons/
10 countries with most installed wind power per capita -- totals are in MW per million people.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Yeah, americans seem allergic to the appearance of them for some reason.

Granted, some sites with steady wind are actually quite remote, but it seems like every planned deployment faces appearance hurdles.

Hell, I love the looks of them. Put them anywhere, I don't mind. Middle of safeco field, the Mariners don't need it.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. By all means, erect one in my back yard. Please!

I think a significant portion of the opposition has nothing to do with the stated reasons.

It seems, for example, that some of the people who object to ugly wind turbines have nothing against natural gas drilling platforms. (Perhaps that’s just my perception.)

Personally, I’d rather look at wind turbines than cellular telephone towers.