Summary
China has a better chance at being a Green Leader through it's explosion of solar and wind manufacturing plants. Simple lip service by Chinese President Hu Jintao to "notably" reduce carbon emissions by 2020 won't put China at the front of the global green revolution. But if nearly every solar panel and small wind turbine installed in the USA says "Made in China", then maybe China will be able to boast about leading the green revolution.
Analysis
Talk is cheap these days when it comes to achieving carbon reduction goals. It seems like we hear world leaders promise one thing and then months later retract it to offer something else that is disguised as a better goal. What has caught my attention more, is the proliferation of Chinese solar and wind manufacturers that are pushing their wares on American companies that install renewable energy systems. As a Director of Business Development for a small renewable energy design/build company in Boise, ID, I am seeing a huge increase in the amount of Chinese made products available to us. And the Chinese are doing some clever marketing as in the "Canadian Solar Panel" that is Made in China. And just last week I received a slew of offers and information from Centron Solar that just set up shop in Eugene, OR. It appears their entire company is from China. So if China is going to lead the green revolution, it will be through business processes they have developed very well. Produce it cheap and market it far and wide. As Americans want more and more solar and wind power in their lives, they may have to depend on the Chinese to deliver it at a price point they can accept.
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
