On Wednesday evening, Director of Americans for Energy Leadership Teryn Norris was interviewed on TV as part of The Alyona Show in a segment called “China Leaves U.S. in Clean Energy Dust,” aired live in Washington DC, New York City, and Los Angeles.
In the midst of a raging nation-wide debate on energy and climate policy, Alyona asked Teryn what will it take for lawmakers to realize the U.S. is falling behind in the global clean energy industry and take the necessary action to regain our position. Teryn discussed the clean energy race and implications for federal policy, the need for a “third way” energy and climate strategy based on public investment in technology innovation, and the DOE Clean Energy Ministerial as an alternative global forum for climate change mitigation.
Eighty per cent of China’s electricity comes from coal, and there are plans for 544 new coal-fired power stations to meet an insatiable demand for energy. The People’s Republic of China is the largest consumer of coal in the world.
To their credit, they have 12 nuclear power reactors in operation, 23 under construction, and more about to start construction soon.
Their concentrating solar power “plants” still face formidable obstacles, including government officials who are skeptical that the technology will be useful on a large scale in China.
[...] “China Leaves U.S. in Clean Energy Dust,” RT America, 07/21/10 [...]