China, Technology, Innovation and the Environment: China leads US in clean energy

China beat the United States for the first time last year in investments in low-carbon energy such as wind and solar power, according to a report released by the Pew Charitable Trusts recently.

In 2009, China invested US$34.6 billion in the clean energy economy while the US invested US$18.6 billion and came in second place, according to the report called, “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?”

Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew Environment Group’s US Global Warming Campaign, said the US lacks strong national policies to support renewable energy.

“I’m worried that we are going to fall further down the list next year,” she said. “We really need to pass policy.”

Overall, investments in clean energy declined about 6.6 percent in 2009 to US$162 billion around the world due to the recession. The report forecast investments would grow to US$200 billion in 2010.

China has adopted national targets for renewable power, including mandates for 30 gigawatts each from wind and biomass energy by 2020. It also has a fixed feed-in tariff for wind farms, which guarantees a minimum price for electricity from the source that’s higher than that from traditional power sources such as fossil fuels.

Many US states have renewable portfolio standards mandating utilities to generate minimum levels of power from clean sources.

But amid delays in climate legislation, Washington has not developed a national standard. The US lacks feed-in tariffs for clean energy.

Countries that participate in full-scale mandatory carbon markets such as Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom are among those that have the most robust and quickly growing clean energy programs, the report said.

via China leads US in clean energy — Shanghai Daily — English Window to China News.