“Stick with me, Babe! We’ll be swimmin’ in dough!” Gassy Phuems winked…then, “Hey! There’s my old pal, Pete Rolleum. I gotta go say ‘HI’.”
“Un…okay, I guess,” Wanda Makeabuc said uncertainly as Pete weaved his way across the tavern floor.
Wade watched Gassy go then slid onto the barstool next to Wanda. “So Gassy’s pitching you to put your money on him and his buddies,” Wade A’Minute smirked. “Seems a little ‘Old School’ to me. Have you heard about what China’s up to? I’d take a look at what they’re doing before jumping on Gassy’s bandwagon.” Wanda eyed Wade guardedly. “OK – I’m game. What cha got?”
Wade described how for decades China had been derided for the pollution coming from its rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants. But by the mid-2000s its overwhelming dependence on coal had plunged China into several air, soil, and water pollution crises. Also, as a rising world power it didn’t like the negative diplomatic impacts of being the world’s worst polluter. So with mounting damages and expenses due to climate change effects, the escalating pollution crisis, and the public unrest about these problems, a change was in order.
And what a change it’s been! Today, China has more than 80 percent of the world’s solar manufacturing capacity. In 2022, China installed roughly as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined, then doubled additional solar in 2023. The extraordinary scale of China’s renewables sector output has driven down prices worldwide, a key factor in reducing the cost barrier to renewable systems for poorer countries. While China is also a leader in wind and battery technologies, one of its companies, BYD, has become the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. The country seems ready to globally dominate all aspects of electric transportation.
“The Chinese seem to understand that renewables are the obvious economic and environmental choice of the future,” Wade continued. “Unless the U.S. is happy playing second fiddle in global energy production, maybe ‘Drill Baby Drill’ as our central strategy, isn’t such a great plan.”
Gassy finally stumbled back over. “Hey Babe, Ya ready to step out with me?”
“Sorry Gassy,” Wanda retorted as she took Wade’s arm. “I think a more profitable and cleaner future lies elsewhere. After all, this is our only home. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
*https://e360.yale.edu/features/china-renewable-energy
“Un…okay, I guess,” Wanda Makeabuc said uncertainly as Pete weaved his way across the tavern floor.
Wade watched Gassy go then slid onto the barstool next to Wanda. “So Gassy’s pitching you to put your money on him and his buddies,” Wade A’Minute smirked. “Seems a little ‘Old School’ to me. Have you heard about what China’s up to? I’d take a look at what they’re doing before jumping on Gassy’s bandwagon.” Wanda eyed Wade guardedly. “OK – I’m game. What cha got?”
Wade described how for decades China had been derided for the pollution coming from its rapid expansion of coal-fired power plants. But by the mid-2000s its overwhelming dependence on coal had plunged China into several air, soil, and water pollution crises. Also, as a rising world power it didn’t like the negative diplomatic impacts of being the world’s worst polluter. So with mounting damages and expenses due to climate change effects, the escalating pollution crisis, and the public unrest about these problems, a change was in order.
And what a change it’s been! Today, China has more than 80 percent of the world’s solar manufacturing capacity. In 2022, China installed roughly as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined, then doubled additional solar in 2023. The extraordinary scale of China’s renewables sector output has driven down prices worldwide, a key factor in reducing the cost barrier to renewable systems for poorer countries. While China is also a leader in wind and battery technologies, one of its companies, BYD, has become the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer. The country seems ready to globally dominate all aspects of electric transportation.
“The Chinese seem to understand that renewables are the obvious economic and environmental choice of the future,” Wade continued. “Unless the U.S. is happy playing second fiddle in global energy production, maybe ‘Drill Baby Drill’ as our central strategy, isn’t such a great plan.”
Gassy finally stumbled back over. “Hey Babe, Ya ready to step out with me?”
“Sorry Gassy,” Wanda retorted as she took Wade’s arm. “I think a more profitable and cleaner future lies elsewhere. After all, this is our only home. It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
*https://e360.yale.edu/features/china-renewable-energy
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