The clean energy race is over. At least for now.
A new Ernst & Young report says what many have suspected. China has surpassed the United States as the most desirable place for clean energy investment.
"China invested almost twice as much in clean energy projects compared with the U.S., and has emerged as the world's market leader in installed wind power capacity in 2009," the report said.
Little policy support by the U.S. Congress is the primary culprit. Manufacturers and capital markets look to the 10-year horizon for clean energy support from central governments and the contest isn't close.
Little policy support by the U.S. Congress is the primary culprit. Manufacturers and capital markets look to the 10-year horizon for clean energy support from central governments and the contest isn't close.
The American clean energy industry and affiliated trade groups have been warning for years that the U.S. would fall behind.
What's been clear for some time China doesn't always play fair - check its currency valuation -- so why would manufacturing and export policy be any different?
That's why the trade case the United Steelworkers of America last week asked the Obama administration to pursue seems to have a kind of finger-in-the-dike quality to it. Yes, even if proved, and a quick read of the complaint's highlights looks pretty convincing, then what?
Sanctions from the World Trade Organization - years away, at best - may come, but one can see the lead will be insurmountable by the time the original case gets resolved.
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