CALLS FOR U.S.-CHINA NEW ENERGY COOPERATION

Cantwell: US, China must cooperate on clean energy
Elaine Kurtenbach, September 7, 2009 (AP via Forbes)

"China and the United States should dismantle outdated trade barriers and cooperate in developing clean energy to help battle climate change and tap job-creating market opportunities, Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, said…

"Speaking to a conference on so-called "green technologies," Cantwell and Chinese officials both urged broader and deeper cooperation, noting that Cold War era limits on technology transfer are hindering both sides of taking advantage of opportunities to invest and create jobs…But such cooperation must be paired with real progress in protecting intellectual property…[and] by combatting piracy of the patents and trademarks…"

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Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), member, Energy and Natural Resources Committee: "If we can deal with these intellectual property issues, it's huge. Hundreds of thousands of jobs can be created in both countries…"

"…Fu Zhihuan, a former minister of railways who now heads the China Energy Conservation Association…and other Chinese officials…urged that Washington move more quickly to allow faster and more open transfer of key technologies. Business communities on both sides have long lobbied for such changes, saying limits meant to prevent China from acquiring sensitive technologies that might be put to military use put U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage, especially with European companies."

China has the drive to build New Energy but, to achieve the emissions cuts China wants to achieve and the world needs it to achieve, China will need the world's best technologies. (click to enlarge)

"Among key areas where China needs help are clean coal technologies, solar energy, electric and hybrid vehicles and improved electricity grids…The U.S. leads in "smart grid" technology…the ways energy is transmitted, stored and consumed. Such technology is crucial for China, which has ramped up installed capacity for solar and wind power but faces hurdles in getting that power to the regions that need it…China's capacity to manufacture faster and more cheaply, in turn, can aid joint efforts to reduce costs…According to Cantwell, 650,000 of the 800,000 solar energy-related jobs worldwide are in China…"

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), member, Energy and Natural Resources Committee: "The basics can be summed up very easily…Jobs, jobs, jobs."